DE212020000643U1 - Cups and stacks of cups - Google Patents

Abstract

Paper cups (200) comprising:
a cup body (210) made from a paper-based material, the cup body including a sidewall (211) and a bottom (121) which together define a cavity (215) having a cavity axis (AA); and
an insert (250) made of a paper-based material, the insert (250) being disposed in the cavity (215) of the cup body (210) adjacent or near the bottom (121), the insert (250) a ledge (161) or protrusion axially spaced from the base (121) and extending inwardly from an inner surface (112) of the sidewall (211) of the cup body (210) toward the cavity axis ( AA) presides,
the insert (250) extending from a lower end (251) to an upper end (252), the insert (250) having a side wall portion (254), the side wall portion (254) of the insert (250) being pivoted or folded over is such that creases formed by the side wall portion (254) abut against the side wall (211) of the cup body (210).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drinks machines make a drink in a disposable cup and then dispense the disposable cup with the drink inside to a consumer. Such beverage machines typically use cups that are pre-filled with powdered ingredients and inject a liquid, such as water, into the cups to create the desired beverage as the liquid mixes with the powdered ingredient. Both paper and plastic cups are an environmental challenge and can be recycled. The introduction of paper cups allows users to opt into a local recycling program. A problem encountered with the use of paper cups in beverage dispensers is that the cups can become snagged, making it difficult for the beverage dispenser to consistently and/or undamage the bottom cup from the stack. Therefore, there is a need for a paper or paperboard cup that can be stacked without snagging on adjacent cups to reduce errors in dispensing cups from beverage machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cup and a stack of cups. A method for producing a cup or a stack of cups is also described. The cups can be made of paper or cardboard and used in a vending machine. There is a need to prevent jamming of adjacent cups in a stack so that the beverage dispenser can consistently dispense cups one at a time upon request from a consumer. In the invention described herein, this is achieved by placing an insert in each cup so that an upper cup in the stack rests on the insert in a lower cup in the stack. This prevents the cups from being stacked too tightly and possibly becoming wedged.

In one aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups, comprising: a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising: a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis; and a liner disposed in the cavity of the cup body, the liner having a sidewall portion having an inner surface facing the cavity axis of the cup body, an outer surface facing the sidewall of the cup body, and a top edge, the sidewall portion of the liner being corrugated such that the inner and outer surfaces alternately comprise ribs and grooves; a powder ingredient located within the cavity of each of the plurality of cups, the powder ingredient being at least partially surrounded by the sidewall portion of the insert; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top edge of the sidewall portion of the insert of a cup immediately below in the stack.

According to another aspect, the invention may be a cup stack comprising: a plurality of cups, each cup comprising: a cup body made of a first paper-based material, the cup body having a cavity with a cavity axis, the cavity passing through a sidewall and a floor are defined; and an insert disposed in the cavity, the insert having a top rim spaced from the bottom of the cup body, the insert being made of a second paper-based material; a powder ingredient disposed in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a portion of each of the plurality of cups sits in the cavity of an immediately underlying cup in the stack and a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top rim of the insert residing in the cavity of the cup immediately below is arranged in the stack.

According to another aspect, a method of making a mug is described, comprising: attaching a support member to a surface of a mug blank; rolling the cup blank into a cylindrical or conical shape to make a sidewall of a cup body such that the surface of the cup blank forms an inner surface of the sidewall of the cup body and the support member protrudes from the inner surface of the sidewall into an interior of the cup body; and attaching a bottom member to the side wall of the cup body to form a bottom of the cup body, wherein the cup body and the support member together form the cup.

According to another aspect, a method of manufacturing a stack of cups for a beverage dispenser is described, the method comprising: forming a cup body from a first paper-based material; forming an insert from a second paper-based material on a mandrel; sliding the cup body over the mandrel while the liner remains on the mandrel, and attaching the liner to the cup body using ultrasonic sealing technologies, thereby creating a cup; placing a powder ingredient into a cavity of the cup such that the powder ingredient is at least partially surrounded by the insert; and stacking multiple cups by placing each cup in the cavity of an immediately underlying cup with a lower end of each cup resting on top of an upper rim of the insert attached to the immediately underlying cup.

According to another aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups, comprising: a plurality of cups made of a first paper-based material, each cup comprising an inner surface defining a cavity, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and a rim; a cuff disposed about a portion of the outer surface of each cup such that an upper rim of the cuff is in contact with a bottom of the rim of the cup, the cuff being made of a second paper-based material; and wherein a plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that each of the plurality of cups fits within the cavity of an immediately underlying cup in the stack and a bottom edge of the sleeve positioned around each cup rests on the rim of the immediately underlying cup in the stack .

According to another aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups, comprising: a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising: a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis; and a liner disposed within the cavity, each liner including a base portion attached to the base of the cup body and a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion and terminating in a top rim; a powder ingredient disposed in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on top of the top edge of the sidewall portion of the insert that is positioned in the cavity of a cup immediately below in the stack.

In another aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups, comprising: a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising: a cavity having a cavity axis; a side wall with a rim; and a bottom member including a top end, a bottom, an inner annular flange extending from the bottom to the top end, and an outer annular flange extending downward from the top end at a position that radially outward of the inner annular flange such that the outer annular flange surrounds and is spaced from the inner annular flange and the floor, the outer annular flange being connected to a lower end of the sidewall, the floor and the inner annular flange forming a forming the lower portion of the cavity recessed under the upper end of the floor member; a powder ingredient disposed at least in the lower portion of the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a bottom end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top end of the bottom member of a cup immediately below in the stack.

In another aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups, comprising: a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising: a sidewall extending from an open bottom end to an open top end; a base member connected to the sidewall to close the open lower end of the sidewall and create a cavity of the cup, the base member comprising: an upper rim; a bottom portion and a first sidewall portion that together define a powder ingredient portion of the cavity, the powder ingredient portion of the cavity being a bottom portion of the cavity; and an annular ridge portion including a distal end located below the bottom portion; a powder ingredient located at least in the powder ingredient cavity of the bottom member of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that the annular raised portion of the base member of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top rim of the base member of a cup immediately below in the stack.

According to another aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups, comprising: a plurality of cups, each cup comprising a sidewall and a bottom defining a cavity having a cavity axis, the sidewall being curved to form a rim at a top end of the manufacture a cup wherein the sidewall includes an outer surface with a shoulder facing downward and away from the rim; wherein a plurality of cups are arranged in a stack so that at least one part each of the plurality of cups is disposed in the cavity of a cup immediately below in the stack and the downwardly directed shoulder of a cup immediately above in the stack rests on the rim of the cup immediately below in the stack to form a cup-to- Maintain cup spacing between adjacent cups in the stack.

According to another aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups, comprising: a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising: a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis; and an insert disposed within the cup body cavity, each insert having a bottom end adjacent the bottom of the cup body cavity and a top end opposite the bottom end, and having a between an outermost portion of the outer surface of the sidewall portion the distance measured between the liner and an inner surface of the sidewall of the cup body decreases from the bottom of the liner toward the top of the liner; a powder ingredient disposed in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top rim of the insert positioned in the cavity of a cup immediately below in the stack.

According to another aspect, the invention may be a stack of cups comprising: a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising: a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis, wherein the sidewall is oriented at a first angle relative to the cavity axis; and an insert disposed within the cavity of the cup body, each insert including a sidewall portion, an outermost portion of the sidewall portion being oriented at a second angle relative to the cavity axis, the second angle being greater than the first angle; a powder ingredient disposed in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on an upper edge of the sidewall portion of the insert that is positioned in the cavity of a cup immediately below in the stack.

According to another aspect, the invention may be a paperboard cup, comprising: a cup body made from a paper-based material, the cup body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that together define a cavity having a cavity axis; and a liner made from a paper-based material, the liner being disposed in the cavity of the cup body so as to be contiguous with the base, the liner having an upper edge spaced axially from the base and facing from an inner surface of the side wall of the cup body inwardly in the direction of the cavity axis.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

character list

• 1 ist eine Vorderansicht eines Bechers gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht des Bechers von 1, die einen Becherkörper und einen darin angeordneten Einsatz zeigt;
• 3 ist eine Explosionsansicht des Bechers von 1, die den aus dem Becherkörper entfernten Einsatz zeigt;
• 4 ist eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie IV-IV von 1;
• 5 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs V von 4;
• 6A ist eine perspektivische Ansicht des Einsatzes des Bechers von 1;
• 6B ist eine Vorderansicht des Einsatzes des Bechers von 1;
• 7 ist eine Vorderansicht mehrerer in einem Stapel angeordneter Becher von 1;
• 8 ist eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie VIII-VIII von 7;
• 9 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht des Becherstapels von 7 mit einer um den Becherstapel herum angeordneten Verpackungsstruktur;
• 10A ist eine Draufsicht auf den Einsatz von 4A;
• 10B ist eine Draufsicht auf einen Einsatz gemäß einer alternativen Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 11A-11F zeigen ein Verfahren zum Herstellen des Bechers von 1, einschließlich zum Herstellen des Einsatzes, zum Verbinden des Einsatzes mit dem Becher und zum Befüllen des Bechers mit einer Pulverzutat;
• 11G und 11H zeigen den Prozess des Stapelns von zwei durch das Verfahren von 11A-11F hergestellten Bechern;
• 12A-12B zeigen eine Querschnittsansicht eines Bechers gemäß einer alternativen Ausführungsform, bei der der Einsatz oberhalb eines Bodens des Becherkörpers gehalten wird, und zeigen ferner die Befüllung des Bechers mit einer Flüssigkeit;
• 13 ist eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf einen Becher gemäß einer anderen Ausführungsform der Erfindung, wobei der Einsatz gegen das Innere des Becherkörpers abgeflacht wurde;
• 14 ist eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie XIV-XIV von 13;
• 15 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Einsatzes gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 16 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Einsatzes gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 17 ist eine Draufsicht auf einen Einsatz gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 18 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die zwei Becher in einem Stapel zeigt, wobei der obere Becher auf einem oberen Rand des Einsatzes des unteren Bechers ruht;
• 19 ist eine Ansicht eines Becherrohlings mit einem daran befestigten Stützelement;
• 20 ist eine Ansicht des Becherrohlings und des Stützelements von 19, nachdem der Becherrohling zu einem Becherkörper gerollt und an das Bodenelement angebracht wurde;
• 21 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die entlang der Linie XXI-XXI von 20 aufgenommen wurde;
• 22 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht, die das Einsetzen einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Einsatzes in einen Becherkörper zum Herstellen eines Bechers zeigt;
• 23 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die zwei in einem Stapel angeordnete Becher von 22 zeigt;
• 24 ist eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie XXIV-XXIV von 23;
• 25 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Einsatzes gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 26 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht, die das Einsetzen einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Einsatzes in einen Becherkörper zum Herstellen eines Bechers zeigt;
• 27 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die vier in einem Stapel angeordnete Becher von 26 zeigt;
• 28 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs XXVIII von 27;
• 29 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Einsatzes gemäß einer anderen Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 30 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht, die das Verbinden einer Manschette mit einem Becher zeigt;
• 31 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die vier in einem Stapel angeordnete Becher von 31 zeigt;
• 32 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs XXXII von 31;
• 33 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht, die das Einsetzen einer anderen Ausführungsform eines Einsatzes in einen Becherkörper zum Herstellen eines Bechers zeigt;
• 34 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die vier in einem Stapel angeordnete Becher von 33 zeigt;
• 35 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs XXXV von 34;
• 36 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die vier in einem Stapel angeordnete Becher gemäß einer anderen Ausführungsform zeigt;
• 37 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs XXXVII von 37;
• 38 ist eine Vorderansicht eines Bechers gemäß einer anderen Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 39 ist eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie XXXIX von 38;
• 40 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht, die die Bildung eines Bechers veranschaulicht, der eine Seitenwand und ein Bodenelement gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung aufweist;
• 41 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die vier in einem Stapel angeordnete Becher von 40 zeigt;
• 42 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs XLII von 41;
• 43 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht, die die Bildung eines Bechers zeigt, der eine Seitenwand und ein Bodenelement gemäß einer anderen Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung aufweist;
• 44 ist eine Querschnittsansicht, die vier in einem Stapel angeordnete Becher von 43 zeigt;
• 45 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs XLV von 41;
• 46 ist eine Querschnittsansicht eines Becherstapels gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 47 ist eine Nahaufnahme des Bereichs XLVII von 46;
• 48 ist eine Querschnittsansicht eines Becherstapels gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 49 ist eine Nahaufnahme von Bereich XLIX von 48;
• 50 ist eine Ansicht eines Becherrohlings mit Klebepunkten auf einer Fläche;
• 51 ist eine Querschnittsansicht von zwei aus den Becherrohlingen von 50 hergestellten und in einem Stapel angeordneten Bechern; und
• 52 ist eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie LII-LII von 51.

The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings:

• 1 Fig. 12 is a front view of a mug according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 2 12 is a perspective view of the cup of FIG 1 Figure 12 showing a cup body and an insert positioned therein;
• 3 is an exploded view of the mug of 1 12 showing the insert removed from the cup body;
• 4 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG 1 ;
• 5 is a close-up of area V of 4 ;
• 6A 12 is a perspective view of the insert of the cup of FIG 1 ;
• 6B 12 is a front view of the insert of the cup of FIG 1 ;
• 7 12 is a front view of several cups arranged in a stack from FIG 1 ;
• 8th 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG 7 ;
• 9 12 is a perspective view of the stack of cups of FIG 7 with a packaging structure arranged around the stack of cups;
• 10A is a top view of the use of 4A ;
• 10B Figure 12 is a plan view of an insert according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
• 11A-11F show a method of making the cup of FIG 1 including making the insert, connecting the insert to the cup and filling the cup with a powder ingredient;
• 11G and 11H show the process of stacking two by the method of 11A-11F manufactured mugs;
• 12A-12B Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a cup according to an alternative embodiment in which the insert is supported above a base of the cup body and further shows the filling of the cup with a liquid;
• 13 Figure 12 is a top perspective view of a mug according to another embodiment of the invention wherein the insert has been flattened against the interior of the mug body;
• 14 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of FIG 13 ;
• 15 Figure 12 is a perspective view of an insert according to another embodiment of the invention;
• 16 Figure 12 is a perspective view of an insert according to another embodiment of the invention;
• 17 Figure 12 is a plan view of an insert according to another embodiment of the invention;
• 18 Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing two cups in a stack, with the top cup resting on an upper rim of the bottom cup liner;
• 19 Figure 12 is a view of a cup blank with a support member attached;
• 20 12 is a view of the cup blank and support member of FIG 19 after the cup blank is rolled into a cup body and attached to the bottom member;
• 21 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI of FIG 20 has been recorded;
• 22 Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the insertion of another embodiment of an insert into a cup body to make a cup;
• 23 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing two cups of FIG 22 displays;
• 24 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIV-XXIV of FIG 23 ;
• 25 Figure 12 is a perspective view of an insert according to another embodiment of the invention;
• 26 Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the insertion of another embodiment of an insert into a cup body to make a cup;
• 27 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing four cups of FIG 26 displays;
• 28 is a close-up of area XXVIII from 27 ;
• 29 Figure 12 is a perspective view of an insert according to another embodiment of the invention;
• 30 Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing connecting a cuff to a cup;
• 31 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing four cups of FIG 31 displays;
• 32 is a close-up of area XXXII of 31 ;
• 33 Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the insertion of another embodiment of an insert into a cup body to make a cup;
• 34 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing four cups of FIG 33 displays;
• 35 is a close-up of area XXXV from 34 ;
• 36 Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing four cups arranged in a stack according to another embodiment;
• 37 is a close-up of area XXXVII from 37 ;
• 38 Fig. 12 is a front view of a cup according to another embodiment of the present invention;
• 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIX of FIG 38 ;
• 40 Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the formation of a cup having a sidewall and a bottom member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• 41 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing four cups of FIG 40 displays;
• 42 is a close-up of area XLII from 41 ;
• 43 12 is a perspective view showing the formation of a cup having a side wall and a bottom member according to another embodiment of the present invention;
• 44 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing four cups of FIG 43 displays;
• 45 is a closeup of the XLV area of 41 ;
• 46 Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a stack of cups according to another embodiment of the present invention;
• 47 is a close-up of area XLVII from 46 ;
• 48 Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a stack of cups according to another embodiment of the present invention;
• 49 is a closeup of area XLIX from 48 ;
• 50 Figure 12 is a view of a cup blank with glue dots on one surface;
• 51 12 is a cross-sectional view of two of the cup blanks of FIG 50 cups manufactured and arranged in a stack; and
• 52 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line LII-LII of FIG 51 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

The description of illustrative embodiments according to the principles of the present invention is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered a part of the entire written description. In describing embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is for convenience in description only and in no way limits the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as "lower", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "beneath", "upwards", "downwards", "above" and "below" and derivatives thereof (e.g. "horizontal", "downwards", "upwards", etc.) refer to the orientation as described or illustrated in the relevant drawing. These relative terms are for convenience of description only, but do not require the device to be built or operated in a particular orientation unless expressly stated. Terms such as "attached," "attached," "connected," "coupled," "interconnected," and the like refer to a relationship in which structures are attached or attached to one another, either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as moveable or rigid attachments or relationships unless specifically described otherwise. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention are explained by reference to the exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the invention should expressly not be limited to such exemplary embodiments, which illustrate some possible, non-limiting combinations of features, which may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention is defined by the appended aspects.

With reference to 1-4 a cup 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described. As described above, the cup 100 may be particularly suited to being stacked with other identical cups and then used in a beverage dispenser. When used in a beverage dispenser, the cups 100 are stacked and inserted into a cup dispensing mechanism. When a consumer wants a beverage from the beverage dispenser, the cup dispensing mechanism dispenses the bottom cup of the stack and the beverage dispenser introduces a liquid (e.g., water) into the cup 100 to form the beverage when the liquid combines with a powdered ingredient mixed with which the cup 100 is pre-filled. As is well known in the art, the bottom cup in the stack can be ejected by actuation/rotation of one or more sprockets which drive the bottom cup away from the rest of the stack by means of a wedge-shaped protuberance. Although the above is an intended use for the cups 100 described herein, the invention is not intended to be so limited in all embodiments and the cups 100 may be used without being dispensed from a beverage dispenser.

The cup 100 generally includes a cup body 110 and an insert 150 disposed within the cup body 110 . how As described in more detail below, a plurality of cups 100 are configured to be arranged in a stack such that each cup rests on the insert 150 placed in the cup below. This prevents the cups 100 from being stacked too tightly, which can cause wedging and make it difficult to separate the cups 100, particularly when used in a beverage dispenser configured to automatically dispense the cups 100 one at a time . More specifically, wedging can occur as a result of powder interacting between the adjacent cups in the stack. That is, particles of the ingredient powder loaded into the cups can become trapped between the sidewalls of adjacent cups in the stack, making it more difficult to separate the cups during a conventional cup separation process using an automatic cup dispensing mechanism of a beverage machine.

In the exemplary embodiment, the cup 100 and each of the cups 100 described herein is made from a paper-based material. In particular, the cup body 110 is made of a paper-based material, and the liner 150 is also made of a paper-based material. As a result, the entire cup 100 including the liner 150 remaining in the cup body 110 can be recycled as ordinary paper waste. As used herein, the term "paper-based material" includes all types of paper material, including poster board, paperboard, printing paper, and the like. Thus, paper-based material includes cellulosic fibers derived from wood, rags, grasses, or other vegetable sources. Paper-based material as used herein also includes chemical pulp, wood-free paper, tree-free paper, wood fiber or wood pulp, flax, hemp, and cotton. In some embodiments, cups made from paper-based materials are made from cellulosic fibers; H. Fibers made from ethers or esters of cellulose, which can be obtained from the bark, wood or leaves of plants or other plant materials. Cellulosic fibers are the most basic and important component of paper. In certain embodiments, the cup body 110 and liner 150 may be made from a paper-based material and may be free of plastics such as polyethylene, as such materials often prevent the material from being recycled as regular paper waste. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the paper-based materials used to make the various components of the cups described herein have no polyethylene content at all.

In some embodiments, the cup body 110 and/or the liner 150 may be made from a paper-based material coated with a water-based dispersion barrier that is either plastic-free or has a low plastic content (i.e., less than 5% by weight). In particular, the barrier coating may contain a polymeric material, but not as a separate layer, so that agitation with water in a recycling plant, which is part of separating the fibers, also breaks the barrier and thus does not prevent recyclability. Although not specifically mentioned, each cup described in this application, including the cup body, liner, collar, etc., is preferably made from a paper-based material so that the cup can be recycled as a whole without having to separate the components.

Thus, the cups 100 described herein and all components of the cups 100 can be made from paper. In particular, the cups 100 may be made primarily from virgin wood fiber board. The cups 100 can also include a water-based dispersion barrier. In addition, the cups 100 may be formed without a plastic liner, such as. B. usually made of polyethylene (PE), or PE in a sufficiently low weight percentage (less than 5 wt%) that the recyclability of the cups 100 is not affected. A problem with PE-lined paper cups is that they cannot be readily recycled, as the plastic liner must be separated from the paper before both can be recycled in separate processes. During this process, however, the plastic liner can break up into relatively large flakes that pass through coarse pulp screens but can clog fine screens. As a result, plastic-lined paper cups are often not recycled, instead ending up in landfill. To ensure that the cups 400 used herein can be recycled, no PE liner is used for the cups 400 (or the percentage of PE in the liner is below the limits specified here). Rather, the water-based dispersion barrier serves the same purpose as the previous PE liner, while still allowing the cups 400 to be fully recycled into normal paper waste streams. The water-based dispersion barrier includes polymers that are heat sealable and block resistant and form a liquid barrier. Thus, the cups 100 described herein do not have a plastic liner and are thus recyclable as waste paper in normal paper waste streams, the cups 100 are biodegradable, and in some embodiments are the cups are made entirely of cardboard and a water-based dispersion barrier. In some embodiments, the cups 100 may be bare or without a polyethylene liner or coating on the inner surface or elsewhere.

In some embodiments, the insert 150 may be formed by forming a paper blank into the desired shape, which may be accomplished with a mandrel as described herein or other methods. In other embodiments, the insert 150 may be formed through a molding process. In particular, pulp or cellulose can be injected into a mold cavity to produce the desired shape and the molded pulp or cellulose can then be cured to ensure that the shape is held. Various methods of wet or dry forming wood fibers into a ring or bowl may be used in various embodiments to make the insert 150 (or any of the other inserts described herein). Such inserts can then be provided with a waterproof coating in some embodiments.

In the exemplary embodiment, the cup body 110 includes a sidewall 111 having an inner surface 112 and an outer surface 113, and a bottom 114 connected to the sidewall 111. As shown in FIG. The side wall 111 and the bottom 114 together form a cavity 115 of the cup body 110, which is designed for receiving powdered ingredients and liquid foods such as drinks and soups. The side wall 111 and the floor 114 thus form the cavity 115, the lower end of which is closed by the floor 114 and the upper end of which is open. The cavity 115 of the cup body 110 extends along a cavity axis A-A from the base 114 to an open top 116. Thus, materials such as beverage ingredients and liquids can be introduced into the cavity 115 through the open top 116. The cup body 110 includes a bottom end 117 and a top end 118 which also form the top and bottom ends of the cup 100 .

An upper portion of the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 is domed to form a rim 119 of the cup 100 that abuts the open top end 116 of the cavity 115 . The rim 119 provides the structural integrity of the cup body 110 so that it can maintain its conical shape, which is perhaps best in the 1 and 4 you can see. An upper end of the rim 119 forms the top 118 of the cup body 110 (which, as noted above, is also the top of the cup 100). A lower portion of the side wall 111 is folded inward to create a fold 120 along an inner side of the side wall 111 . The lower portion of the side wall 111 is folded inward along its entire length such that the fold 120 is an annular fold. In the exemplary embodiment, the outer surface 113 of the sidewall 111 is smooth except for the rim 119 and has no protuberances. Thus, the outer surface 113 of the side wall 111 is completely smooth from the lower end 117 to the edge 119 (no protuberances, elevations, recesses, indentations, depressions, etc.).

In the exemplary embodiment, the cup body 110 includes a bottom member 121 that includes the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 . The bottom member 121 and the liner 150 may be made of the same paper-based material in some embodiments, but regardless, the bottom member 121, the sidewall 111, and the liner 150 are all made of paper-based materials. The bottom member 121 includes a horizontal portion 122 forming the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 and a flange portion 123 extending from the horizontal portion 122 . The flange portion 123 is an annular flange in the exemplary embodiment and extends downward from the horizontal portion 122 . The flange portion 123 of the bottom panel 121 is placed in the fold 120 made by the folded-in lower portion of the side wall 111, and then the flange portion 123 is bonded (with ultrasonic, adhesive or the like) to the side wall 111 to form the bottom panel 121 to connect to the side wall 111. Due to the way the bottom member 121 is connected to the sidewall 111, the horizontal portion 122 of the bottom member 121 is recessed relative to the bottom end 117 of the cup body 117. As shown in FIG. The horizontal portion 122 of the bottom member 121 (and hence the bottom 114 of the cavity 115) is located axially between the bottom and top ends 117, 118 of the cup body 110 (and also the cup 100). In other words: a fold area is formed between the lower end 117 of the cup 100 and the underside of the base 114 .

Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, the cup body 110 of the cup 100 includes the side wall 111 and the bottom member 121 that together form and define the cavity 115 . In other embodiments, the insert 150 can form the bottom 114 of the cup 100, and in such embodiments the bottom element 121 can be omitted, or the bottom element 121 can have a dual function in that it also functions as a ledge or projection on which an overlying cup in a stack rests (which, as will be explained in more detail below, is the purpose of the insert 150 in the current embodiment).

As briefly mentioned above, in the exemplary embodiment, the cup body 110 has a conical shape. Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment, sidewall 111 is oriented at a first angle θ1 relative to cavity axis A-A. The first angle Θ1 is an acute angle, e.g. B. in a range of 1 ° to 10 °, more precisely 1 ° to 5 °. The side wall 111 is thus oriented at a slightly obtuse angle to the bottom 114 (e.g. at an angle between 91° and 100°, more precisely between 91° and 95°). Due to this orientation of the side wall 111, the cup body 110 has a substantially conical shape. In other embodiments, sidewall 111 may be oriented parallel to cavity axis A-A (and thus perpendicular to floor 114), and in such an embodiment, cup body 110 may have a generally cylindrical shape.

Referring to the 2-6B and 10A 11, the cup 100 will be further described with particular emphasis on the structural details of the liner 150 and its cooperation and/or relationship with the cup body 110. FIG. As described above, the cup 100 includes the cup body 110 and the liner 150. The liner 150 is a structure also made of a paper-based material that is inserted into the cavity 115 of the cup body 110. As shown in FIG. When the liner 150 is placed in the cavity 115 of the cup body 110, the entire liner 150 is within the cavity 115 such that no portion of the liner 150 protrudes beyond the open top 116 of the cavity 115. The height of the insert 150 is therefore less than the height of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 measured from the bottom 114 to the top 118. It should be noted that the insert 150 is a separate component from the cup body 110 and that the insert 150 is arranged in the cavity 115 of the cup body 110 . In some embodiments, the insert 150 may be bonded or fixed to the cup body 110, and in other embodiments the insert 150 may be unattached relative to the cup body 110 such that it is disposed within, but not directly adjacent to, the cavity 115 of the cup body 110 Cup body 110 is attached or connected to it.

To reiterate, the cup body 110 is closed at the bottom before the insert 150 is inserted into the cavity 115. The bottom 114 of the cup body 110 thus closes the lower end of the cavity 115. The bottom 114 of the cup body 110 has no openings, but extends over the entire distance between the side wall 111 of the cup body 110. The insert 150 is in the exemplary embodiment in disposed within cavity 115 adjacent floor 114 and may be in contact with floor 114 in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the entire bottom portion of the liner 150 may be in contact with the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 . Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, no portion of the liner 150 is visible from a bottom of the cup 100 because the liner 150 is hidden from view by the underside of the base 114 of the cup body 110 .

The insert 150 includes a lower end 151 and an upper end 152. The insert 150 is disposed within the cavity 115 of the cup body 110 such that the lower end 151 abuts or contacts the bottom 114 of the cup body 110. In the embodiment shown, the insert 150 is connected to the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 . In various embodiments, the insert 150 can be connected to the base 114 of the cup body 110 by adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the insert 150 is not connected to the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110, although it is possible to connect the insert 150 to the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 in alternative embodiments, and such connection to the sidewall 111 may alternatively or in addition to the connection to the floor 114.

In the exemplary embodiment, the insert 150 includes a floor portion 153 and a sidewall portion 154 extending upwardly from an outer edge 155 of the floor portion 153 . In alternative embodiments, some of which are described below with reference to example 22 , 25 , 26 and 29 however, the insert may have a side wall but no bottom. Thus, the insert may be an annular component, which is described below according to alternative embodiments. In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom portion 153 of the insert 150 is a flat, planar surface. When the insert 150 is placed in the cavity 115 of the cup body 110, the bottom portion 153 of the insert 150 rests directly on the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 and the bottom portion 153 of the insert 150 is connected (ie, bonded) to the bottom 114 of the cup body 110. In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom portion 153 is donut-shaped such that it has a central hole 157 . In the exemplary embodiment ment shape, the bottom section 153 thus comprises the outer edge 155 and an inner edge 156, the inner edge 156 forming a boundary of the central hole 157. However, it should be noted that the central hole 157 may be omitted in other embodiments. In other words, the insert 150 itself does not form a cavity that is closed at both ends. Rather, there is a passage from the upper end 152 of the insert 150 to a lower end of the insert 150, which is due at least in part to the presence of the central hole 157.

In the exemplary embodiment, the central hole 157 of the insert 150 has a diameter D1. Also, the bottom portion 153 of the insert 150 has a diameter D2 and a radius R1. In the exemplary embodiment, the diameter D1 of the central hole 157 is less than the radius R1 of the bottom portion 155. Further, in the insert 150, there is a linear distance measured from the outer edge 155 to the inner edge 156 at each location and along each diameter of the bottom portion 153 constant. That is, the width of the donut shape of the bottom portion 153 is constant. Thus, the value of the difference between the radius R1 of the bottom and a radius of the center hole 157 is constant at any location along the bottom portion 153 of the insert 150.

As mentioned above, the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 extends upwardly from the bottom 153 of the insert 150 to the top 152 of the insert 150 . A distal end of sidewall portion 154 forms the top end 152 of insert 150. When insert 150 is positioned within cavity 115 of cup body 110, top end 152 is axially spaced from bottom 114 of cup body 110 and is located between bottom 114 of the cup body 110 and the top 118 of the cup body 110. The exact height of the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150 can be determined based on various dimensions of the cup body 110 in which the liner 150 is to be positioned to provide proper cup-to-cup spacing to ensure when multiple cups 100 are stacked. Thus, the height of the side wall portion 154 can be changed as needed depending on the dimensions of the cup body 110 in which the insert 150 is to be positioned.

The sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 includes an outer surface 158 facing the inner surface 112 of the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 and an inner surface 159 facing the cavity axis AA. Additionally, in the embodiment shown, the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 is corrugated. Due to the corrugated shape of the sidewall portion 154, both the inner and outer surfaces 158, 159 of the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 have ridges 164 and grooves 165 alternating therewith. In other words, the inner and outer surfaces 158, 159 of the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 are corrugated. In the embodiment shown, the corrugations are V-shaped, but the invention is not so limited in all embodiments. For example shows 10B an alternative embodiment of an insert 150a having trapezoidal corrugations (where insert 150a is otherwise identical to insert 150).

Because of the undulations in the sidewall portion 154, when the insert 150 is positioned within the cavity 115 of the cup body 110, portions of the outer surface 158 of the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 may contact the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 while other portions of the outer surface 158 of the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 are spaced from the side wall 111 of the cup body 110. Thus, between the outer surface 158 of the side wall portion 154 of the liner 150 and the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 there are gaps or spaces 160 as best illustrated 2 apparent. That is, the ridges 164 of the outer surface 158 of the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150 are closer to (and potentially touching) the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 than the grooves 165 of the outer surface 158 of the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150. Due to the corrugated shape of the Sidewall portion 154 of insert 150 has upper end 152 of insert 150 in a zigzag shape around its entire circumference. The inner and outer surfaces 158, 159 of the side wall portion 154 of the insert 150 also have the zigzag shape mentioned above. The chevron shape of the upper end 152 of the insert 150 forms a ledge or projection 161 upon which a cup immediately above in a stack of cups 100 rests, as described in more detail below. Thus, portions of the upper end 152 of the insert 150 protrude from the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 (without being directly attached thereto) in the direction of the cavity axis AA to create the ledge or protrusion 161 . Thus, when a second cup 100 is placed in the cavity 115 of a first cup 100, the lower end 117 of the second cup 100 will contact and rest on the upper end 152 of the insert 150 to maintain proper spacing between the cups and prevent the two cups become wedged.

According to 10A the insert 150 forms a ledge or boss to support an overlying cup in the stack, although the thickness of the material used to make the ledge or boss 150 is rather thin. In particular, the thickness T1 of the material forming the insert 150 can be between 0.05 mm and 0.5 mm, more precisely between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm and even more precisely between 0.25 mm and 0.35 mm . However, because the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 is corrugated, its upper edge still forms a ledge or protrusion. In particular, the thickness T2 of the ledge, measured as the distance between one of the ribs 164 on the outer surface 158 of the side wall portion 154 and one of the ribs 164 on the inner surface 159 of the side wall portion 154, can be between 3 mm and 4 mm, more precisely between 3.3 mm and 3.7 mm and more precisely between 3.35 mm and 3.5 mm. In some embodiments, the ratio between the thickness T2 of the bar and the thickness T1 of the material can be between 8:1 and 15:1, more precisely between 10:1 and 13:1 and even more precisely between 11:1 and 12:1.

How best from the 4 and 5 As can be seen, the outer diameter measured at the lower end 151 of the insert 150 is smaller than a diameter of the cavity 115 of the cup body 110 measured along the bottom 114 of the cavity 115. Therefore the insert 150 is from the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 at the lower end 151 of the insert 150 apart. This ensures that the insert 150 fits easily into the cavity 115 and can be moved all the way to the bottom 114 of the cavity 115. Further, the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 is oriented at a different angle than the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110. While the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 is oriented at a first angle Θ1 relative to the cavity axis AA, the outermost portion of the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 oriented at a second angle Θ2 relative to the cavity axis AA. In the illustrated embodiment, the second angle θ2 is greater than the first angle θ1.

Due to the difference between the first and second angles Θ1, Θ2, the outer surface 158 of the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 is closer to the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 when moving from the bottom 114 to the top 118 of the cup body 110. This means that the distance measured between the outermost portion of the outer surface 158 of the side wall portion 154 of the insert 150 (which is formed by the ribs 164 along the outer surface 158) and the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 decreases when a movement of lower end 117 of side wall portion 154 of insert 150 to upper end 152 of side wall portion 154 of insert 150 . In other embodiments, sidewall portion 154 of insert 150 and sidewall 111 of cup body 110 may be oriented at the same angle relative to cavity axis A-A.

As mentioned above, in the exemplary embodiment, the bottom portion 153 of the liner is bonded directly to the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 . This can be achieved with adhesives or, preferably, using ultrasonic bonding techniques. Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150 is not directly bonded or attached to the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 . Therefore, the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150 is configured to freely flex and move relative to the cup body 110 in the exemplary embodiment. In other embodiments, sidewall portion 154 may be bonded directly to sidewall 111 of cup body 110 using adhesive or ultrasonic bonding methods.

In some embodiments, the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 may include one or more openings 163 (only in 4 shown). These openings 163 allow liquid introduced into the cavity 115 to flow through the openings 163 so that the liquid can flow into the gaps 160 between the outer surface 158 of the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150 and the inner surface 113 of the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110. The openings 163 may be located near the bottom portion 153 as shown, or they may be located at a higher elevation along the sidewall portion 154 . Apertures 163 may be smaller than shown to minimize the amount of powder ingredient that can pass through the apertures while allowing liquid introduced into cavity 115 to pass through the apertures during beverage preparation.

The inclusion of the openings 163 may aid in flushing the gaps 160 which may contain particles of a powder or beverage ingredient previously introduced into the cavity 115 . In particular, the cups 100 are generally pre-filled with a powdered ingredient, which may be ground coffee, ground coffee with powdered milk and sugar, soup base, or other powder containing a flavor to make a beverage when mixed with a liquid such as water are mixed. The powder ingredient can get into the gaps during shipping and normal handling of the cups 100 160 reach. The liquid or water introduced into the cavity 115 can also mix through the openings 163 with the particles of the powder ingredient which have entered the gaps 160 . Of course, openings 163 may be omitted in some embodiments and are not shown in most figures.

In 7 and 8th several cups 100 are arranged in a stack 105. As mentioned above, after the cups 100 are made, by placing the insert 150 in the cavity 115 of the cup body 110 (and possibly gluing or otherwise attaching the insert 150 to the cup body 110, although not required in all embodiments), a powder ingredient becomes a powder ingredient 190 (also referred to herein as a beverage ingredient) is inserted into the cavity 115 of the cup 100. The powder ingredient 190 can be, for example, without limitation, coffee grounds, coffee grounds mixed with sugar, coffee grounds mixed with creamer, coffee grounds mixed with sugar and creamer, a tea ingredient, a soup base ingredient, a flavored powdered drink, a cocoa powder used to make hot chocolate, or any another type of ingredient that can be used to make a drink, soup or the like when water or other liquid is introduced into the cavity 115 of the cup 100 and mixed with the powdered ingredient 190. Of course, ingredients other than the powder ingredient can be used in other embodiments depending on the beverage or potable food to be made.

The cups 100 are arranged in a stack by inserting a portion of a cup immediately above, bottom end 117 first, through the open top end 116 of the cavity 115 of a cup immediately below. The cup immediately above is moved/displaced by gravity or by the user in the cavity 115 until the bottom end 117 of the cup immediately above contacts the top end 152 of the insert 150 in the cup immediately below. Were it not for the inserts 150, the cup immediately above could move down the cavity 115 of the cup immediately below until the lower end 117 of the cup immediately above abuts or touches the bottom 114 of the cup immediately below . If the cup immediately above were able to move down the cavity 115 of the cup immediately below to this extent, there is a risk that it could become wedged, which could cause the beverage dispenser to have difficulty separating the cups during a cup dispensing operation. Therefore, the insert 150 of the present invention prevents the cup immediately above from moving that far down. In particular, the insert 150 stops the movement of the cup immediately above when the lower end 117 of the cup immediately above contacts the upper end 152 of the insert 150 of the cup immediately below. Of course, it should be understood that the inserts 150 are formed from a paper-based material, so a user could potentially push an immediately above cup on the insert 150 into the cup immediately below by pressing down on the cup immediately above. such that the insert 150 bends or breaks. In normal stacking and handling, the insert 150 in the cup immediately below supports the cup immediately above.

As mentioned above, the upper end 152 of the insert 150 (forming an upper edge of the insert 150) has a zigzag shape that causes portions thereof to protrude from the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110. FIG. This does not necessarily mean that the top edge of the liner 150 is in contact with the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 . Rather, to say that the top end 152 (or top edge) of the insert 150 protrudes from the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 means that the top end 152 of the insert 150 protrudes from the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 away and towards the central axis AA of the cavity 115. In other words, the statement herein that the top rim 152 of the liner 150 (or the top rim of any other liner described herein) protrudes from the inner surface 112 of the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 simply means that portions of an inner rim of the top rim 152 of the liner 150, which is fabricated at the intersection of the top rim 152 of the liner 150 and the inner surface 159 of the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150, is spaced radially inwardly from the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110 toward the cavity axis AA.

In the embodiment shown, this forms the ledge or projection 161 on which the cup immediately above rests. Portions of the upper end 152 of the insert 150 must extend a certain distance from the side wall 111 into the cavity 115 to ensure that the cup immediately above cannot easily slide past the insert 150 as it is inserted into the cavity 115 of the cup immediately below is set. In some embodiments, the top end 152 of the insert 150, or portions thereof, may extend to a point that is between 0.5mm and 1.5mm, more specifically between 0.6mm and 1.0mm, and more specifically is about 0.8 mm from the inner surface 112 of the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 away.

Although in the exemplary embodiment the top 152 (or top edge) of the insert 150 forms the ledge or protrusion on which the cup immediately above in the stack 105 rests, this is not required in all embodiments. In particular, in alternative embodiments, the ledge or protrusion 161 may be disposed along the sidewall portion 154 at a location that is at a level below the top 152 of the insert 150 . The cup immediately above in stack 105 may rest on ledge 161, whether formed by top 152 of side wall portion 154 or located at a location below top 152 of side wall portion 154 is.

In 8th 1, the powder ingredient 190 is shown in the cavity 115 of each of the cups 100. FIG. Further, the powder ingredient 190 is arranged such that the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 surrounds the powder ingredient 190 . In the embodiment shown, the powder ingredient 190 does not extend beyond the top 152 of the insert 150 . However, it is possible for portions of the powder ingredient 190, particularly portions closest to the cavity axis AA, to pile up high enough to be higher than the top 152 of the insert 150. However, since the bottom 114 of the cup 100 is recessed relative to the lower end 117, there is additional room for such powder ingredients 190 to extend beyond the top end 152 of the insert 150 in the cup below.

If a user holds the stack 105 by holding any cup 100 other than the bottom one, the cups below the held cup may dislodge from the stack 105 because the inserts 150 prevent the cups 100 from wedging. This is because the inserts 150 space the adjacent cups in the stack 105 a sufficient distance so that they do not frictionally engage one another, which can occur in a conventional stack of cups without the inserts 150 .

With reference to 9 For example, the stack of cups 105 is preferably maintained in the stacked configuration with a packaging structure 130. The packaging structure 130 can be made from a paper-based material in some embodiments, although the invention is not intended to be so limited and in other embodiments the packaging structure 130 can be made from other materials such as plastics and the like. Of course, paper may be preferred due to the recyclability and environmental factors described here. The packaging structure 130 is configured to wrap snugly around the bottom 117 of the bottom cup in the stack 105 and the top 118 of the top cup in the stack 105 to hold the cups 100 in the stacked configuration. Thus, the packaging structure 130 is configured to prevent a cup 100 in the stack 105 from moving axially relative to another cup in the stack 105 while the packaging structure 130 is connected to the stack 105 . In the embodiment shown, a large portion of the cups 100 are left exposed and uncovered by the packaging structure 130 . Of course, in other embodiments, the packaging structure 130 may completely enclose the cups 100 and stack 105 and still prevent relative axial movement of the cups 100 .

When the stack 105 is to be loaded into a beverage dispenser, the user removes the packaging structure 130 from the stack 105, leaving the cups 100 in the stacked configuration and preventing one of the cups 100 from becoming detached from the remainder of the stack 105. Then the user places the stack 105 in the drinks machine, which can dispense the cups 100 one at a time when a consumer requests a specific drink from the drinks machine.

9 Figure 13 shows a packaging structure 130 that can be used to hold the stack 105 together for shipping, transportation, or the like. In other embodiments, a shrink film may be wrapped around the stack 105 for this purpose. In other embodiments, a vacuum pack may be placed around the stack 105 to hold the stack 105 together. In still other embodiments, the cups may have embossing, debossing, or mating projections/recesses on the inner and outer surfaces to prevent relative axial movement of the cups when nested in a stack, as in European patent no EP2195245B1 shown.

With reference to 11A-11H a method of manufacturing a cup 100 and then stacking two of the cups 100 will be described sequentially. First, as in the 11A and 11B shown, an insert blank 10 between a mandrel 11 and a Shaping element 12 inserted. The insert blank 10 is made from a paper based material as described herein. In some embodiments, mandrel 11 and/or forming element 12 may be heated during this process. By clamping the insert blank 10 between the mandrel 11 and the forming element 12, as in FIG 11b 1, the insert blank 10 is formed into the insert 150. As shown in FIG. In the next step, as in 11C 1, the mandrel 11 and/or the forming element 12 are moved relatively away from each other (either the mandrel 11 or the forming element 12 or both can be moved). The insert 150 may remain attached to the end of the mandrel 11 during this process.

Next, with reference to 11D a cup body 110 (made by a proprietary manufacturing process common and known in the art) onto the mandrel 11 such that the mandrel 11 enters the cavity 115 of the cup body 110 through the open top end 116 thereof. Furthermore, as in 11 E As shown, the mandrel 11 is moved relative to the cup body 110 (or the cup body 110 is moved relative to the mandrel 11) until the previously manufactured insert 150 contacts the bottom 114 of the cup body 110. Once the insert 150 contacts the bottom 114 of the cup body 110, the insert 150 is bonded to the bottom 114 of the cup body 110. Such a connection may be accomplished by ultrasonic bonding or welding, in which high frequency ultrasonic waves are passed through the mandrel to fuse the insert 150 to the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 . Alternatively, the insert 150 or the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 may already have adhesive applied so that when the insert 150 contacts the bottom 114 of the cup body 110, these two components are automatically bonded together. The mandrel 11 is then removed from the cavity 115 of the cup body 110, leaving the insert 150 connected to the cup body 110 to form the cup 100 which is 11 F is shown.

In 11 F the cup 100 together with the cup body 110 and the insert 150 connected thereto are shown in cross section. Further, the ingredient powder 190 is placed in the cavity 115 of the cup body 110 . This step occurs when the cup 100 is used in a beverage dispenser as described above.

With reference to 11G and 11 h the cups 100 are arranged in a stack after multiple cups 100 as above with reference to FIG 11A-11E described and then prepared with the powder ingredient 190 as above with reference to FIG 11 F have been filled as described. In order for the cups 100 to be arranged in a stack, a cup 100 immediately above is placed bottom end 117 first through the open top end 116 of a cup 100 immediately below until the bottom end 117 of the cup 100 immediately above the ledge or touches the projection 161 of the insert 150 of the cup 100 immediately below. In the exemplary embodiment, the ledge or protrusion 161 is formed by the top end 152 of the insert 150, although this is not required in all embodiments, and as discussed above, the ledge or protrusion 161 is formed between the top end in other embodiments 152 of the insert 150 and the bottom 114 of the cup 100 could be arranged. Additional cups 100 can be added to the stack until the stack contains the desired number of cups (e.g., each stack can contain 20 cups). The cups 100 are sufficiently spaced so that they do not become wedged. Finally, a packaging structure as in 9 shown and described may be placed around the stack 100 to prevent axial movement/separation of the various cups 100 in the stack.

With reference to 12A and 12B An alternative embodiment of a cup 100 is shown, wherein the cup 100 includes the cup body 110 and the liner 150 . The difference between 12A and 12B 1 and 2 previously described is that the lower end 151 of the insert 150 is elevated above the bottom 114 of the cup body 110. In the exemplary embodiment, one or more spacers 170 are positioned between the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 and the bottom 151 of the liner 150 . In other embodiments, the bottom portion 153 of the liner 150 may be folded or corrugated (similar to the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150) such that portions of the bottom portion 153 that are the grooves of the corrugations are spaced from the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 are. In either case, due to the spacing of the lower end 151 (and bottom portion 153) of the liner 150 from the bottom 114 of the cup body 110, there is a space for the liquid (ie, water) introduced into the cavity 115 during beverage manufacture , can flow between the bottom portion 153 of the liner 150 and the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 .

One reason it may be desirable to have the lower end 151 of the liner 150 above the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 is to ensure that the water/ the liquid introduced into the cavity 115 can flow into the space between the side wall portion 154 of the insert 150 and the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 . In particular, it is possible that during the handling of the cup 100 and/or the stack of cups, a part of the powder ingredient 190 gets into the space between the side wall section 154 of the insert 150 and the side wall 111 of the cup body 110 . Therefore, to ensure that the liquid introduced into the cavity 115 during beverage preparation can mix with the powder ingredient 190 trapped between the sidewall portion 154 of the liner 150 and the sidewall 111 of the cup body 110, the liner 150 is lifted slightly from the base 114 of the cup body 110 is raised. As in 12B As can be seen, this allows the liquid to flow into the space between the bottom portion 153 of the liner 150 and the bottom 114 of the cup body 110 and then up into the spaces between the side wall portion 154 of the liner 150 and the side wall 111 of the cup body 110.

13 and 14 FIG. 1 shows a cup 200 with a cup body 210 and an insert 250 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The cup body 210 is identical to the cup body 110 and is therefore not described in detail here since the description of the cup body 110 is accurate. Cup body 210 may include reference numerals identical to reference numerals for features of cup body 110, except that the 200 series of numbers is used. The insert 250 is similar to the insert 150 previously described, except for the differences noted here.

The insert 250 extends from a lower end 251 to an upper end 252. In the exemplary embodiment, the insert 250 includes a sidewall portion 254 but no bottom portion. However, the insert 250 may also have a bottom portion identical to the bottom portion 153 of the insert 150 described above (with or without the central hole 157). The sidewall portion 254 of the insert 250 is corrugated like the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150, except that the sidewall portion 254 is flattened against the sidewall 211 of the cup body 210 when the insert 250 is placed in the cavity 215 of the cup body 210. Thus, the side wall portion 254 of the insert 250 is pivoted such that the folds formed by the corrugated side wall portion 254 abut the side wall 211 of the cup body 210 . This reduces (or eliminates) the gap between the outer surface of the sidewall portion 254 of the liner and the inner surface of the sidewall 211 of the cup body 210 . As a result, the powder ingredient particles are less likely to get caught between the side wall portion 254 of the insert 250 and the side wall 211 of the cup body 210 .

In this embodiment, the cups 200 can be stacked similarly as described for the cups 100 above. That is, each cup 200 is inserted into the cavity 215 of a cup immediately below until the bottom end 217 of the cup immediately above rests on the top end 252 of the insert 250 of the cup immediately below. In this way, proper spacing is maintained between adjacent cups in the stack to prevent wedging as described above. Although in this embodiment the upper end 252 of the insert 250 forms the ledge or ledge on which the cup immediately above in the stack rests, the ledge or ledge could be at a lower elevation along the side wall portion 254 of the insert 250 be formed as mentioned above.

15-17 show additional alternative embodiments for inserts. In 15 and 16 For reference, a dashed circle indicates the inner surface of the sidewall of the cup in which the insert is to be placed. 15 12 specifically shows an insert 260 having a sidewall 261 divided into a plurality of sidewall segments 262. FIG. Each sidewall segment 262 overlaps the two adjacent sidewall segments 262. That is, a first end of each sidewall segment 262 overlaps an interior surface of an adjacent sidewall segment 262 and an exterior surface of another adjacent sidewall segment 262. This overlapping of the side wall segments 262 gives the side wall 261 a certain thickness, in particular at the point of overlap. This increased thickness at the point of overlap between two adjacent sidewall segments 262 provides a ledge or protrusion upon which a cup immediately above in a stack can rest to provide the desired spacing between cups in a stack of cups with the inserts 260 to keep.

16 FIG. 12 shows an insert 270 having a hexagonal side wall 271. FIG. When the insert 270 is placed in a cup body having a circular cross-section cavity, some portions of the side wall 271 are spaced from the side wall of the cup body. The upper edge of the portions of side wall 271 spaced from the side wall of the cup body forms a ledge or protrusion crack on which a cup immediately above in a stack of cups can rest to maintain the desired spacing between cups. In 16 a circle around insert 270 represents sidewall 111 of cup body 110. Additionally, an arrow indicates the increased depth/thickness of the ridge or protrusion resulting from the spacing between portions of sidewall 271 of insert 270 and sidewall 111 of cup body 110 Cup body 110 results, so that a cup lying above it in a stack can rest in the right place.

17 FIG. 12 shows an insert 280 comprising a bottom portion 281 and a side wall portion 282 extending from the bottom portion 281. FIG. The side wall portion 282 includes a plurality of spaced apart tabs 283. When the insert 280 is placed in a cup body 110 as shown in FIG 18 As shown, the tabs 283 of the side wall portion 282 fold and extend upwardly so that the distal ends 284 of the tabs 283 form the ledge or protrusion upon which a cup immediately above in the stack rests (as in Fig 18 shown).

With reference to 19-21 A method of manufacturing a cup 300 having a cup body 310 and a support member 350 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the component on which an overlying cup in a stack rests is referred to as a support member 350 rather than an insert. This is because, in this embodiment, the support member 350 is attached to the blank used to make the cup body before the cup body is made, as explained below.

First is in 19 a cup blank 320 having a surface 321 is shown. The cup blank 320 is flat at this point in the process. The cup blank 320 is preferably made from a paper-based material. Furthermore, as also in 19 As shown, support member 350 is attached to surface 321 of cup blank 320. FIG. The support member 350 is attached to the face 321 of the cup blank 320 before the cup blank 320 is rolled into a conical or cylindrical shape to form the cup 300 . The support member 350 is also preferably made from a paper-based material. The support member 350 may be bonded or attached to the surface 321 of the cup blank 320 by ultrasonic bonding, adhesives, or the like in various embodiments.

In this embodiment, the support member 350 comprises a strip 351 of paper material having a first surface 352 and a second surface 353 opposite the first surface 352. The strip 351 is folded, curved, or corrugated to form a plurality of bumps 354 formed from of the second surface 353 protrude. The bumps 354 differ from one another and are spaced apart along a length of the strip 351 . The support member 350 is connected to the surface 321 of the cup blank 320 such that the first surface 352 of the strip 351 is in contact with the surface 321 of the cup blank 320 and the second surface 353 of the strip 351 faces away from the surface 321 of the cup blank 320. The elevations 354 protrude from the surface 321 of the cup blank 320 . Because strip 351 is an integral structure, ridges 354 form recesses 355 in first surface 352 of strip 351, and a gap exists between second surface 353 of strip 351 and surface 321 of cup blank 320 at the locations of ridges 354.

In 19 the support member 350 extends continuously across the entire cup blank 320 from a first side to a second side. Thus, the support member 350 is a continuous strip 351 of paper material. However, the invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and the support member 350 may comprise a plurality of separate strips spaced but contiguously disposed on the cup blank 320 . Thus, instead of a single strip, there could be two, three, four or more separate strips forming the support member 350 while still achieving the same end purpose, namely to form a ledge or protrusion to hold the next cup in the stack of cups support. Simply put, the support member 350 can be a continuous strip as in 19 be shown or a discontinuous stripe in various embodiments.

According to 20 For example, after the support member 350 is bonded to the surface 321 of the cup blank 320, the cup blank 320 is rolled into a cylindrical or conical shape to form a side wall 311 of the cup body 310. After the cup blank 320 is rolled into the cylindrical or conical shape, a base member 330 is attached to the side wall 311 of the cup body 310 to form the cup 300 as shown in FIG 20 shown to form. In 20 in particular, two cups are shown stacked.

With reference to 20 and 21 For example, when the cup blank 320 is rolled into the cylindrical or conical shape to form the sidewall 311 of the cup body 310, the support member 350 remains connected to the surface 321 of the cup blank 320 and forms the surface 321 of the Cup blank 320 finally has an inner surface 312 of the side wall 311 of the cup body 310. Thus, the support element 350 is connected to the inner surface 312 of the side wall 311 of the cup body 310, and the elevations 354 of the strip 351 of the support element 350 protrude from the inner surface 312 of the side wall 311 of the cup body 310 to a cavity axis BB of a cavity 315 of the cup body 310. Is the mug 300 complete as in 20 and 21 3, the support member 350 includes a bottom rim 356 adjacent a bottom 314 of the cup body 310 and a top rim 357 spaced from the bottom 314 of the cup body 310. The top rim 357, and particularly the portions of the top rim 357 defined by the bosses 354 are formed, form a ledge or a projection 360 of the support element 350, on which a cup lying immediately above in the stack can rest. As in 20 As shown, the bottom end 317 of the cup immediately above in the stack rests on the ledge 360 of the support member 350 (formed by the top edge 357 of the support member 350) of the cup immediately below in the stack.

As in 21 As best seen, there are gaps between the recesses 355 of the first surface 352 of the support member 350 and the inner surface 312 of the sidewall 311 of the cup body 310. These gaps are created by the bumps 354 and the one-piece construction of the support member 350. Therefore, the Desire to reduce the gaps between the recesses 355 and the sidewall 311 of the cup body 310 while ensuring that the ridges 354 extend a sufficient distance from the inner surface 312 of the sidewall 311 to form an appropriate ledge or protrusion. which can support the cup immediately above in the stack, as described in detail herein.

Thus, in the fully formed cup 300, the support member 350 is annular and includes the first surface 352 (or outer surface) facing the side wall 311 of the cup body 310 and a second surface 353 (or inner surface) facing the first surface 352 and faces the inside of the cup body 310 . The second or inner surface 353 includes a plurality of spaced apart ridges (or protruding portions) 354 that extend inward toward the cup body 310 cavity axis B-B. Each bump 354 forms a ledge or portion of a ledge or projection upon which the lower end 317 of a cup immediately above in the stack rests to separate the lower end 317 of the cup immediately above in the stack bottom 314 of the cup immediately below in the stack.

With reference to 22-24 Another embodiment of a cup 400 is shown and described. The cup 400 includes a cup body 410 and an insert 450 disposed in a cavity 415 of the cup body 410 . The cup body 410 is identical to the cup body 110 described above, so a detailed description of the cup body 410 is omitted for the sake of brevity. The description of the cup body 110 naturally also applies to the cup body 410. To describe the cup body 410, reference numbers are used which, apart from the fact that the number series 400 is used, are identical to those used to describe the features of the cup body 110. Thus, the cup body 410 includes a base 414 and a sidewall 411 with an inner surface 412 extending from the base 414. As shown in FIG. The bottom 414 and an inner surface of the sidewall 411 together form a cavity 415. As previously discussed, the cavity 415 may contain a powder ingredient, but for the sake of simplicity it is summarized in FIGS 22-24 is not shown.

In this embodiment, the insert 450 is a separate component from the cup body 410 that is inserted into the cavity 415 of the cup body 410 after the cup body 410 has been manufactured (rather than during or before the formation of the cup body 410 as in the case of the above referenced FIG the 19-21 described cup 300). The insert 450 includes an annular reinforcing member 460 and an annular support member 470 which are joined together and together form the insert 450. As shown in FIG. In particular, the annular reinforcing member 460 includes a smooth outer surface 461 and a smooth inner surface 462 opposite the smooth outer surface 461. The annular support member 470 includes an inner surface 471 and an outer surface 472 and a plurality of spaced-apart protruding portions 473 on the outer surface 472. The annular support member 470 is arranged inside the annular reinforcement member 460 such that the inner surface 471 of the annular support member 470 faces the outer surface 462 of the annular reinforcement member 460, and then the annular support member 470 is attached or bonded to the annular reinforcement member 460 to form the insert 450 form.

After insert 450 is manufactured separately from cup body 410 , insert 450 is inserted into cavity 415 of cup body 410 . In the exemplary embodiment For example, the insert 450 is arranged such that a lower end 451 of the insert 450 is in contact with the bottom 414 of the cup body. However, the invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and the lower end 451 of the insert 450 may be spaced from the floor 414 in other embodiments. In addition, the smooth outer surface 471 of the annular reinforcement member 460 forms the outer surface of the insert 450 and the smooth outer surface 471 of the annular reinforcement member 460 is in contact with the inner surface 412 of the side wall 411 of the cup body 410. The smooth outer surface 471 of the annular reinforcement member 460 can in some Embodiments may bond (with adhesive, ultrasonically, or the like) to inner surface 412 of sidewall 411 of cup body 410, although not all embodiments require this. In alternative embodiments, the liner 450 may not be physically bonded or bonded to the cup body 410 but may instead simply rest on top of the bottom 414 of the cup body 410 .

As in 24 As best seen, the spaced protruding portions 473 of the insert 450 protrude away from the sidewall portion 411 of the cup body 410 and towards a cavity axis CC of the cavity 415 of the cup body 410 when the insert 450 is placed in the cavity 415 of the cup body 410. As a result, the portions of the upper end 452 of the insert 450 that are aligned with and formed by the projecting portions 473 of the insert 450 form a ledge upon which a cup immediately above in a stack of cups 400 can rest without the the overlying cup in the stack of cups 400 can move down into the cavity 415 of the cup immediately below past the top 452 of the insert 450 . this is in 23 is shown with the lower end 417 of the overlying cup 400 resting on the upper end 452 of the insert 450 disposed in the cavity 415 of the underlying cup 400. FIG.

25 Figure 4 shows another embodiment of an insert 480 made from a paper-based material. The insert 480 is annular and has an inner surface 481 and an outer surface 482 opposite the inner surface 481. The insert 480 is folded or bent to form a plurality of projections 483 extending inwardly from the inner surface 481 to a central axis of the insert 480 extend. In this embodiment, however, the protrusions 483 do not form recesses on the outer surface 482 but are compressed to close any gaps that would otherwise form. Thus, when the insert 480 is placed within the cavity of a cup body, the gaps between the insert 480 and the sidewall of the cup body are reduced, if not eliminated. This embodiment ensures that the ledge formed by the protrusions 483 is sufficiently deep to support an overlying cup while at the same time reducing the gaps through the powder ingredient between the insert 480 and the side wall of the cup in which the insert is placed is, can reach.

Thus, in some embodiments, the insert may include an annular member having protrusions extending inwardly from an inner surface thereof forming a ledge that supports the cup that is at the top of a stack of cups. Thus, in all embodiments, the precise structure of the insert is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Rather, the insert can be any annular member configured to fit within the cavity of a cup at a location adjacent or touching the bottom of the cup and having protrusions that extend further extend into the cavity of the cup towards the cavity axis of the cup to ensure that a cup nested therein touches and rests on the insert rather than being pushed further down into the cup below which could result in wedging which could result in the Beverage machines make it difficult to dispense the cups consistently without errors. The outer surface of the liner facing the sidewall of the cup body in which it is placed may be smooth as shown in FIGS 22 , 25 and 26 shown, or it may contain cutouts or the like as in 21 shown.

In 26-28 Another embodiment of a cup 500 is shown. The cup 500 includes a cup body 510 and an insert 550. The cup body 510 is identical to the cup body 110 described above and is therefore not described in detail here for the sake of brevity. Briefly, the cup body 510 includes a base 514 and a sidewall 511 with an inner surface 512 that defines a cavity 515 together with the base 514 . The cup body 510 also includes a bottom end 517 that forms a bottom end of the cup 500 .

In this embodiment, the insert 550 is an annular component having a smooth inner surface 551 and a smooth outer surface 552. The insert 550 also includes a bottom end or rim 553 and a top end or top rim 554. The insert 550 has therein embodiment no elevations or protuberances extending from the inner surface 551 extend from. Rather, the insert 550 has a thickness, measured between the inner and outer surfaces 551, 552, sufficient to ensure that an overlying cup in a stack rests on the top 554 of the insert 550 in the cup immediately below it in the stack lying cup is arranged. In some embodiments, the thickness of the insert 550 can be at least 0.5 mm, or more specifically at least 0.6 mm, or more specifically at least 0.7 mm, or even more specifically at least 0.8 mm. The insert 550 can be made from multiple plies of paper-based material or from a thicker type of paper-based material such as e.g. B. cardboard or the like, are produced.

The insert 550 is placed in the cavity 515 of the cup body 510 as shown in FIG 27 shown. The insert 550 can be arranged such that the lower end 553 is in contact with the bottom 514 of the cup body 510 . Alternatively, the lower end 553 of the insert 550 may be spaced from the bottom 514 of the cup body 510. Additionally, the insert 550 may be physically attached to the bottom 514 and/or sidewall 511 of the cup body 510, although not all embodiments require this. Are the cups stacked as in 27 and 28 As shown, the lower end 517 of a cup 500 immediately above in the stack is in contact with and rests on the upper end 554 of the insert 550 of the cup 500 immediately below in the stack. This maintains a desired spacing between adjacent cups in the stack to prevent jamming and to ensure proper dispensing of cups from a beverage dispenser as described herein. Although not shown in these figures, a powder ingredient can be placed in the cavity 515 of each cup 500 as described above.

29 14 shows another embodiment of an insert 580. The insert 580 is very similar to the sidewall portion 154 of the insert 150 described above. In particular, the insert 580 is the same as the insert 150 described above with the bottom portion 153 omitted. Thus, the insert 580 includes a sidewall portion 581 which is corrugated to provide a wavy or zigzag shape. The insert 580 also has a lower end 582 and an upper end 583. When the insert 580 is positioned within the cavity of a cup body such that the lower end 582 abuts or contacts the bottom of the cup body, portions of the upper end protrude 583 of the insert 580 from the side wall of the cup body into the cavity of the cup body or extend inwardly. Thus, the upper end 583 of the insert 580 forms a ledge upon which a cup immediately above in a stack of cups can rest. As with all inserts described herein, insert 580 may be made from a paper based material. The insert 580 may be loosely retained within the cavity of the cup body and not physically connected thereto, or the insert 580 may be physically attached or bonded to the cup body in various embodiments.

In 30-32 Illustrated is a cup 600 (and a stack 605 of cups 600) according to another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is somewhat different from those previously described in that there is no insert placed in a cup body. In this embodiment, a collar surrounds the outside of the cup and the collar makes it easier to maintain the correct and desired spacing between the cups in the stack 605.

30 shows a cup 600 having a cup body 610 with a side wall 611 and a bottom (in 30 not shown). The side wall 611 has an outer surface 613 and an inner surface 612 which together with the floor define a cavity 615 . The cup 600 also includes a rim 609 formed by curling an upper portion of the side wall 611 in the embodiment shown. Rim 609 may be formed in conventional manner known to those skilled in the art. The cup 600 is preferably formed from a paper-based material. An upper end of rim 609 forms a top 618 of cup 600, and a lower end of rim 609 forms a bottom 616 of rim 609. Cup 600 is a conventional paper cup, wherein one of the advantages of this embodiment (and many others described herein Embodiments) is located, so that the cup 600 itself does not have to be changed.

Additionally, in this embodiment, there is a cuff 650 disposed around a portion of the outer surface 613 of each cup 600. FIG. The cuff 650 has a lower end 651, an upper end 652, an inner surface 653 and an outer surface 654. The cuff 650 is an annular component such that the inner surface 653 surrounds a passage extending from the lower end 651 to the upper End 652 extends. The collar 650 is placed around the cup 600 by inserting the cup 600 bottom end first into the passage formed by the collar 650 and sliding the collar 650 up the outer surface 613 of the side wall 611 of the cup 600 until the top end 652 of collar 650 at the bottom of rim 609 of the cup 600 is present. As can be seen in the figures, the height of the cuff 650 is much less than the height of the cup 600 and less than the height of cuffs intended to prevent a user from burning their hand when filling the cup with a hot beverage Mug 600 holds. In particular, the height of the collar 650 measured from the bottom 651 to the top 652 is between 10% and 20% of the height of the cup 600 measured from a bottom 617 of the cup 600 to the bottom 616 of the rim 609.

In the embodiment shown, the inner and outer surfaces 653, 654 of the sleeve 650 are smooth. However, the invention is not limited thereto in all embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the sleeve 650 may be corrugated such that the inner and/or outer surfaces 653, 654 are wavy or have ridges and grooves as described above. In other embodiments, cuff 650 may have smooth inner and outer surfaces 653, 654 and may have protuberances extending from outer surface 654 to provide the support function described herein.

In 31 and 32 Several cups 600 are located in a stack 605 such that each cup is placed in the cavity 615 of a cup immediately below. When a cup immediately above is inserted into the cavity of a cup immediately below, due to the arrangement of collar 650, lower end 651 of collar 650 around cup 650 immediately above abuts against upper end 618 of the cup immediately below, causing the collar 650 is trapped between the bottom 616 of the rim 609 of the cup immediately above and the top 618 of the rim 609 of the cup immediately below. In this way, the collar 650 maintains the spacing between adjacent cups in the stack 605 at the desired height to ensure that the cups do not become wedged.

In the exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the collar 650 measured between the inner and outer surfaces 653, 654 varies. More specifically, the thickness of the collar 650 measured between the inner and outer surfaces 653, 654 continuously increases as one moves from the top end ( or upper edge) 652 of the cuff 650 to the lower end (or lower edge) 651 of the cuff 650 is moved. As in 31 As shown, the cavity 615 of each cup 600 in the stack 605 contains a powder ingredient 690. In addition, the collar 650 is sufficiently high to ensure that the bottom 617 of each cup 600 is clear of the powder ingredient in the stack 605 immediately below lying cup is spaced.

It should be noted that the cups 600 and cuffs 650 are configured such that the cuff 650 cannot enter the cavity 615 when one cup 600 enters the cavity 615 of another through the opening at the top end 618 of the cup 600 Bechers 600 is used. When sleeve 650 is placed around cup 600, an outer diameter of sleeve 650 is larger than a diameter of the opening into cavity 615 at top end 618 of cup 600. Thus, when an overlying cup is slid into an underlying cup, forms the lower end 651 of the collar 650 provides a stop since it abuts the upper end 618 of the cup below and will not fit through the opening into the cavity 615 without deforming one or both cups 600 .

In 33-35 Another embodiment of a cup 700 and a stack 705 of cups 700 is shown and described. The cup 700 includes a cup body 710 and an insert 750 disposed in a cavity 715 of the cup body 710 . Cup body 710 includes a sidewall 711 with an interior surface 712 and a bottom 714. Bottom 714 and sidewall 711 together define cavity 715 of cup body 710. Cup 700 is paper and has a structure similar to conventional paper cups.

The insert 750 includes a bottom portion 751 and a sidewall portion 752 extending upwardly from the bottom portion 752 . The insert 750 is preferably made from a paper-based material such as the materials mentioned above. The insert 750 can be made by forming a paper blank with a mandrel as described herein or by a pulp injection molding process. Indeed, any of the inserts described herein may be manufactured by mandrel forming, injection molding from pulp or similar materials, or the like. In one embodiment, materials such as industrial starch, natural fibers, and water may be premixed and then placed in a mold cavity, cured/heated, and then removed to produce insert 750. In other embodiments, the inserts described herein can be made from bagasse.

The insert 750 is arranged in the cavity 715 of the cup body 710 such that the bottom portion 751 of the insert 750 to the Bottom 714 of the cup body 710 is adjacent. The bottom portion 751 of the insert 750 may be physically attached (with adhesive, ultrasonic bonding, or the like) to the bottom 714 of the cup body 710 in some embodiments. The sidewall portion 752 of the insert 750 may be connected to the sidewall 711 of the cup body 710 in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the insert 750 can also be free-standing within the cavity 715 of the cup body 710 such that the insert 750 is not physically connected to the cup body 710 . The difference between the insert 750 and the insert 150 is that the bottom portion 751 of the insert 750 does not have a hole and the side wall portion 752 of the insert 750 is not corrugated, but the inner and outer surfaces are smooth.

When multiple cups 700 are arranged in a stack 705, a lower end 717 of each cup immediately above rests on an upper edge of the side wall portion 752 of the insert 750, which is located in the cavity 715 of the cup immediately below in the stack 705, such as in 34 and 35 shown. In this way, the insert 750 prevents cups from being stacked too tightly, thereby preventing jamming, allowing a beverage dispenser to consistently dispense cups one at a time when needed.

36 and 37 Figure 12 shows a plurality of cups 800 arranged in a stack 805. Each cup 800 includes a cup body 810 and an insert 850 as described in the previous embodiments. The cup body 810 includes a bottom 814 and a sidewall 811, with an inner surface 812 of the sidewall 811 and the bottom 814 together forming a cavity 815 having a cavity axis DD. In this embodiment, the insert 850 includes a bottom portion 851 and a sidewall portion 852. The insert 850 is positioned within the cavity 815 of a cup body 810 such that the bottom portion 851 abuts the bottom 814 of the cup body 810.

The difference between this embodiment and that previously described is that the insert 850 has a slight structural change compared to the insert 750. In particular, the sidewall portion 852 of the insert 850 is a double-walled structure. In particular, the sidewall portion 852 includes a first portion 853 extending upwardly from the bottom portion 851 and a second portion 854 extending downwardly from the first portion 853 . The first and second sections 853, 854 are spaced from each other, and at the intersection of the first and second sections 853, 854, an arcuate connecting section 855 is formed. Thus, the second portion 854 is substantially folded relative to the first portion 853. FIG. When multiple cups 800 are arranged in the stack 805, a lower end 817 of a cup 800 immediately above rests on and contacts the arcuate connecting portion 855 of the side wall portion 852 of the insert 850. Because the sidewall portion 852 is double walled, it provides increased structural integrity and rigidity, allowing the inserts 850 to better support the load of the overlying cups.

In this embodiment, the second portion 854 of the sidewall portion 852 of the insert 850 can also be formed with a positive draft such that the second portion 854 of the sidewall portion 852 is constrained to flex inwardly when the insert 850 is placed in a cup 800. In such a situation, the second portion 854 of the sidewall portion 852 is biased outwardly against the inner surface 812 of the sidewall 811 of the cup body 810 such that the insert 850 is held securely in place. Therefore, in this embodiment, the insert 850 need not be bonded to the cup body 810, although if desired the insert 850 may be bonded to the cup body 810 using methods described above such as adhesives, ultrasonics, or the like.

In 38 and 39 a cup body 860 comprising a cup body 861 and an insert 862 is briefly described. The insert 862 can accommodate any of the structures of the inserts described above. In particular, they should 38 and 39 merely illustrate another alternative mechanism for securing the insert 862 within the cup body 861, and while a particular insert 862 is shown, the precise configuration, structure, shape or the like of the insert 862 is not limited to that shown in the drawings. Specifically, in this embodiment, the insert 862 is positioned in a cavity 863 of the cup body 861 adjacent a bottom 864 of the cup body 861 . Furthermore, a side wall 865 of the cup body 861 has a ridge 866 that extends inward toward the cavity 863 . When the insert 862 is positioned in the cavity 863, the bump 866 is immediately above an upper end of the insert 862 to retain the insert 862 in the cavity 863 axially. The insert 862 can still be easily inserted into the cavity 863 because the sidewall 865 flexes outward as the insert 862 passes the boss 866 and then flexes inward again when the insert 862 is fully seated below elevation 866 and floor 864. In this way, the insert 862 is held and fixed axially between the elevation 866 and the floor 864 .

The bump 866 may be formed by forming an indentation on the outer surface of the sidewall 865, causing a portion of the sidewall 865 to protrude inward and forming the bump 866. FIG. In the exemplary embodiment, ridge 866 is annular and extends along an entire perimeter of cup body 861. However, the invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and ridge 866 may be intermittent or discontinuous, such that it may include a plurality of ridge segments, which are spaced apart from each other. In any event, bump 866 may serve to retain insert 862 within cavity 863 as shown and described.

In 40-42 Another embodiment of a cup 900 is shown and described. As in 41 and 42 As shown, multiple cups 900 (details of which are described below) may be arranged in a stack 905 with a bottom end of each cup 900 spaced from a bottom of the cup below to prevent the cups from snagging on one another as described in detail in this application. The cup 900 can be made entirely of a paper-based material, including any of the materials described herein.

A key difference between this embodiment and those previously described is that there is no real deployment. The function performed by the inserts in the previous embodiments is performed by the base member in this embodiment. In particular, each cup 900 includes a sidewall 910 having an inner surface 911 and an outer surface 912, with the inner surface 911 surrounding a cavity 915 having a cavity axis E-E. Sidewall 910 is open at both the top and bottom. The sidewall 910 includes a rim 913 along a top portion.

The cup 900 also includes a base member 920 that is connected to the sidewall 910 to close the open lower end of the sidewall 910. FIG. Thus, the base member 920 forms a bottom of the cavity 915 of the cup 900. The base member 920 includes a bottom portion 921 and a sidewall portion 922 extending upwardly from the bottom portion 921 to a distal end 923. The distal end 923 of the side wall section 922 forms an upper end of the base element 920 on which a cup 905 lying above in the stack 905 rests. In this embodiment, sidewall portion 922 includes an inner surface 924 and an outer surface 925, with outer surface 925 including a recessed portion 926 extending from distal end 923 to a shoulder 927. FIG. When the base member 920 is connected to the side wall 910 , a lower portion of the side wall 910 fits into the recess portion 926 of the side wall portion 922 of the base member 920 and a lower end of the side wall 910 abuts the shoulder 927 . The lower portion of the sidewall 910 can then be glued to the sidewall portion 922 of the base member 920 to bond the base member 920 to the sidewall 910 and form the cup 900 .

In addition, the base member 920 includes a projection 930 extending downwardly from the floor 921 away from the distal end 923 of the side wall portion 922 . In the exemplary embodiment, protrusion 930 is positioned immediately adjacent sidewall portion 922 . Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, protrusion 930 is an annular protrusion, but the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments, and protrusion 930 could be discontinuous in other embodiments. In the exemplary embodiment, protrusion 930 forms a relief area in cavity 915 of cup 900, as shown in FIG 41 and 42 to see. In other embodiments, the recessed area in the cavity 915 of the cup 900 can be filled with additional paper-based material without affecting the function of the base member 920 as described herein.

A powder ingredient 931 is placed in the cavity 915 of the cup 900 and rests on the bottom portion 921 of the base member 920 . The powder ingredient 931 can be any one or a combination of the above types of powder ingredients.

Are the mugs 900 as in 41 and 42 shown stacked, the protrusion 930 of the base member 920 of a cup immediately above in the stack 905 rests on the distal end 923 of the sidewall portion 922 of the base member 920 in a cup immediately below in the stack 905 . This arrangement prevents the cup immediately above from being inserted too far into the cavity 915 of the cup immediately below, which can result in wedging. In particular, the structure, shape and configuration of the base member 920 ensures that adequate spacing between the cups is maintained to prevent such wedging and allowing for proper and consistent dispensing of the cups 900 when stacked and used in a beverage dispenser as described herein.

43-45 FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a cup 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS 44 and 45 10 show multiple cups 1000 in a stack 1005. Similar to the previous embodiment, the cup 1000 in this embodiment includes a cup body 1010 and a base member 1050. The cup body 1010 includes a sidewall 1011 extending from an open bottom to an open top End extends so that the side wall 1011 defines and surrounds a cavity 1015 . A lower portion of sidewall 1011 is folded to form a pocket to allow sidewall 1011 to be connected to base member 1050 as described below.

The base member 1050 includes a floor 1051, a first sidewall portion 1052 extending upwardly from the floor 1051 to a support portion 1053, and a second sidewall portion 1054 extending downwardly from the support portion 1053 to a distal end 1055. The support portion 1053 of the base element is rounded in the illustrated embodiment and forms the upper end of the base element 1050, which forms a ledge on which an overlying cup in the stack 1005 rests. The second sidewall portion 1054 is radially spaced from the first sidewall portion 1052 . The bottom 1051 and the first side wall portion 1052 together form a lower portion of the cavity 1015 of the cup 1000 in which a powder ingredient 1090 is placed. The second side wall portion 1054 extends to a position below a bottom surface of the bottom 1051 of the base member 1050 . The bottom 1051 of the base element 1050 is thus located axially between the distal end 1055 of the second side wall section 1054 and the support section 1053.

To attach base member 1050 to sidewall 1010, base member 1050 is inserted into cavity 1015 until a bottom portion of second sidewall portion 1054 of base member 1050 enters the pocket formed by the folded bottom portion of sidewall 1011. The bottom portion of the second side wall portion 1054 of the base member 1050 is then bonded to the bottom portion of the side wall 1011 of the cup body 1010 with adhesive, ultrasonic, or the like. With this arrangement of the components, the distal end 1055 of the second side wall portion 1054 and the lower portion of the side wall 1011 of the cup body 1010 surrounding the distal end 1055 of the second side wall portion 1054 of the base member 1050 form an annular ridge portion of the cup body.

If several cups 1000 are arranged in the stack 1005, as in 44 and 45 As shown, a lower end of the cups 900, which is formed by the distal end 1055 of the second side wall section 1054 of the base element 1050 and the lower section of the side wall 1011 of the cup body 1010, lies on top of the rounded support section 1053 of the base element 1050 of the stack 1005 cup immediately below. The support portion 1053 of the base member 1050 thus forms the ledge or protrusion upon which a cup immediately above in the stack 1005 rests to prevent the adjacent cups from wedging. Overall, the base member 1050 provides both the bottom of the cavity 1015 and the ledge for supporting an overlying cup in the stack 1050 to maintain acceptable spacing between the cups.

With reference to 46 and 47 another embodiment of a cup 1100 will now be described. In this embodiment, the cup 1100 includes a bottom 1101 and a top 1102. The cup 1100 further includes a sidewall 1110 having an inner surface 1111 and an outer surface 1112, and a bottom 1113. The bottom 1113 and the inner surface 1111 of the sidewall 1110 form together a cavity 1115 of cup 1100 extending along a cavity axis FF. A powder ingredient 1190 is placed in the cavity 1115 of the cup 1100 and is supported by the floor 1113 .

In this embodiment, the inner surface 1111 of the sidewall 1110 of the cup 1110 includes an upwardly facing shoulder 1120 located near but above the bottom 1113 . The upturned shoulder 1120 forms a ledge upon which a lower end 1101 of a cup immediately above in a stack 1105 of cups 1100 can rest. Specifically, in this embodiment, the sidewall 1110 of the cup 1100 includes a top portion 1116 extending from the top 1102 of the cup 1100 to the shoulder 1120 and a bottom portion 1117 extending from the shoulder 1120 to the bottom 1101 of the cup 1100 extends. The top portion 1116 of the sidewall 1110 is oriented such that it deviates from the cavity axis FF as it extends from the shoulder 1120 to the top 1102 of the cup 1100 . The bottom portion 1117 of the sidewall 1110 is oriented such that it deviates from the cavity axis FF as it extends from the shoulder 1120 to the bottom 1102 of the cup 1100 . Shoulder 1120 is formed by a horizontally oriented portion of sidewall 1110 that extends between a bottom end of top portion 1116 of sidewall 1110 and a top end of bottom portion 1117 of sidewall 1110 .

Thus, the top and bottom portions 1116, 1117 of the side wall 1110 are angled in opposite directions. Specifically, when moving from the bottom 1101 of the cup 1100 to the top 1102 of the cup 1100, the bottom portion 1117 of the sidewall 1110 is angled toward the cavity axis FF and the top portion 1116 of the sidewall 1110 is away from the cavity axis FF angled. This ensures that the lower end 1101 of a cup immediately above in the stack 1105 rests on the upwardly facing shoulder 1120 of a cup immediately below in the stack 1105 . This arrangement prevents the cups 1100 from becoming wedged and the powder ingredient 1190 from becoming lodged in the spaces between adjacent cups.

With reference to 48 and 49 Another embodiment of a cup 1200 and a stack 1205 of cups 1200 will now be described. The cup 1200 includes a bottom 1201 and a top 1202. The cup 1200 includes a sidewall 1210 with an inner surface 1211 and an outside surface 1212. The sidewall 1210 is rolled to form a rim 1214 at the top 1202 of the cup 1200 . The cup 1200 also includes a bottom 1213. The bottom 1213 and the inner surface 1211 of the sidewall 1210 together form a cavity 1215 having a cavity axis GG. A powder ingredient 1290 is placed in the cavity 1215 and lies on the bottom 1213 of the cavity 1215.

In this embodiment, the outer surface 1212 of the sidewall 1210 includes a downwardly facing shoulder 1220 that is near the rim 1214 of the cup 1200 but spaced therefrom. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the downward-facing shoulder 1220 is located along a length of the top 20% of the sidewall 1210 of the cup 1200 (where the length of the sidewall 1210 is measured from the bottom 1201 to the top 1202 of the cup 1200). In other embodiments, the downward facing shoulder 1220 may be located on the top 15% of the length of the sidewall 1210 of the cup 1200 or on the top 10% of the length of the sidewall 1210 of the cup 1200 . Sidewall 1210 of cup 1200 includes a first portion 1216 extending from bottom 1213 to downward facing shoulder 1220 and a second portion 1217 extending from downward facing shoulder 1220 to rim 1214 . The first portion 1216 of the sidewall 1210 diverges or diverges from the cavity axis G-G in the region between the floor 1213 and the downwardly facing shoulder 1220 . In other words, the first portion 1216 of the sidewall 1210 is oriented at an acute angle to the cavity axis G-G. The second portion 1217 of the sidewall 1210 is oriented parallel to the cavity axis G-G. Thus, the second portion 1217 of the side wall 1210 extends vertically from the downward facing shoulder 1220 to the rim 1214. The second portion 1217 of the side wall 1210 should be vertically oriented to ensure that the rim 1214 is aligned with the downward facing shoulder 1220 aligned. This ensures that when the cups 1200 are stacked, the downward facing shoulder 1220 of a cup above in the stack 1205 rests on the rim 1214 of a cup below in the stack 1205 .

As shown in the figures, the downward-facing shoulder 1220 of a cup immediately above in the stack 1205 rests on the top 1202 of a cup immediately below in the stack 1205 when the cups 1200 are stacked. In other words, the downward-facing shoulder 1220 of a cup immediately above in the stack 1205 rests on the rim 1214 of a cup immediately below in the stack 1205 . This arrangement is configured to maintain the spacing between adjacent cups in the stack 1205 and prevent wedging. In some embodiments, each cup may be held such that the bottom 1201 of a cup immediately above it in the stack 1205 does not contact the powder ingredient 1290 in a cup immediately below it in the stack 1205 .

In 50-52 A final embodiment of a cup 1300 is shown and described. 50 FIG. 13 shows a cup blank 1380 used to make cup 1300. FIG. Before the cup blank 1380 is rolled into a conical or cylindrical shape to form the cup 1300, one or more protruding features 1350 are placed on a surface 1381 of the cup blank 1380 in alignment. In the exemplary embodiment, there are multiple protrusions protruding elements 1350, although in other embodiments a single, continuous protruding element may be used. In the exemplary embodiment, the protruding elements 1350 are dots of adhesive (e.g. hot melt adhesive) which are arranged on the surface 1381 of the cup blank 1380 . The invention is not so limited, however, and other materials for the protruding elements 1350 can also be used. In some embodiments, the protruding elements 1350 can be made from a paper-based material and adhered to the surface 1381 of the cup blank 1380 using adhesives, ultrasonics, or the like.

After the protruding elements 1350 are bonded to the surface 1381 of the cup blank 1380, the cup blank 1380 is rolled into the cup shape, specifically a conical shape in the exemplary embodiment, although in other embodiments it could be cylindrical, around a sidewall 1311 of a cup body 1310 of the cup 1300 to form. A base member 1320 is then attached to the side wall 1311 in a conventional manner. When the cup body 1310 is made in this way, the protruding elements 1350 protrude from an inner surface 1312 of the side wall 1311 into a cavity 1315 of the cup body 1310. In this way, the protruding elements 1350 form a ledge or protrusion on which a Stack 1305 the cup overlying cup can rest as in 51 shown. That is, a lower end 1301 of a cup immediately above in the stack 1305 rests on the protruding members 1350 to ensure proper spacing between the cups 1300 in the stack 1305 is maintained. As illustrated, each cup 1300 may contain a powder ingredient 1390 as described above.

For brevity, ranges are provided throughout for individual values within the range. Any value within the range can be chosen as the end point of the range. Furthermore, all references cited herein are included in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between a definition in the present disclosure and that in a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

While the invention has been described in terms of specific examples, including presently preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and permutations of the systems and methods described above. It is understood that other embodiments may be employed and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, as set forth in the accompanying aspects, the scope of the invention should be construed broadly.

GENERAL ASPECTS

• Aspekt 1. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, die aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind, wobei jeder Becher Folgendes umfasst:
  • einen Becherkörper mit einer Seitenwand, die einen Hohlraum mit einem Boden und einer Hohlraumachse umgibt; und
  • einen Einsatz, der in dem Hohlraum des Becherkörpers angeordnet ist, wobei der Einsatz einen Seitenwandabschnitt mit einer der Hohlraumachse des Becherkörpers zugewandten Innenfläche, einer der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers zugewandten Außenfläche und einem oberen Rand umfasst, wobei der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes gewellt ist, sodass die Innen- und Außenflächen abwechselnd Rippen und Rillen umfassen;
  • eine Pulverzutat, die sich in dem Hohlraum jedes der mehreren Becher befindet, wobei die Pulverzutat wenigstens teilweise von dem Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes umgeben ist; und wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass ein unteres Ende jedes der mehreren Becher auf dem oberen Rand des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers ruht.
• Aspekt 2. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 1, wobei für jeden der mehreren Becher der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes ein unteres Ende aufweist, das an den Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers angrenzt, und wobei ein zwischen einem äußersten Abschnitt der Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes und einer Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers gemessener Abstand abnimmt, wenn man sich von dem unteren Ende des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes zu dem oberen Ende des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes bewegt.
• Aspekt 3. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 2, wobei der an dem unteren Ende des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes gemessene Außendurchmesser des Einsatzes kleiner ist als der an dem Boden des Hohlraums gemessene Durchmesser des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers, in dem der Einsatz angeordnet ist.
• Aspekt 4. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 3, wobei für jeden der mehreren Becher die Seitenwand des Becherkörpers in einem ersten Winkel relativ zu der Hohlraumachse ausgerichtet ist und wenigstens ein Abschnitt des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes in einem zweiten Winkel relativ zu der Hohlraumachse ausgerichtet ist, wobei der zweite Winkel größer ist als der erste Winkel.
• Aspekt 5. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 4, wobei jeder Einsatz und jeder Becherkörper aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist, sodass jeder der mehreren Becher derart konfiguriert ist, dass er als Papier recycelt werden kann.
• Aspekt 6. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 5, wobei jeder Einsatz ferner einen Bodenabschnitt mit einem äußeren Rand aufweist, von dem sich der Seitenwandabschnitt erstreckt, und wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Bodenabschnitt des Einsatzes an den Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers angrenzt.
• Aspekt 7. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 6, der ferner ein Loch in dem Bodenabschnitt jedes Einsatzes aufweist.
• Aspekt 8. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 7, wobei bei jedem Einsatz der Durchmesser des Lochs in dem Bodenabschnitt kleiner ist als der Radius des Bodenabschnitts.
• Aspekt 9. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 7 bis 8, wobei bei jedem Einsatz der Bodenabschnitt einen inneren Rand, der eine Begrenzung des Lochs bildet, und einen äußeren Rand, von dem sich der Seitenwandabschnitt erstreckt, umfasst und wobei ein entlang eines beliebigen Durchmessers des Bodenabschnitts gemessener linearer Abstand zwischen dem äußeren Rand und dem inneren Rand konstant ist.
• Aspekt 10. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 7 bis 9, wobei bei jedem Einsatz der Wert der Differenz zwischen einem Radius des Bodens und einem Radius des Lochs an einer beliebigen Stelle entlang des Bodenabschnitts des Einsatzes konstant ist.
• Aspekt 11. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 6 bis 10, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Bodenabschnitt des Einsatzes eine dem Boden des Becherkörpers zugewandte untere Fläche und eine der unteren Fläche gegenüberliegende obere Fläche aufweist, wobei wenigstens ein Abschnitt der unteren Fläche des Bodenabschnitts des Einsatzes von dem Boden des Hohlraums des Bechers beabstandet ist.
• Aspekt 12. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 11 mit einem oder mehreren Abstandshaltern, die zwischen der unteren Fläche des Bodenabschnitts des Einsatzes und dem Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers angeordnet sind, um einen Zwischenraum zwischen der unteren Fläche des Bodenabschnitts des Einsatzes und dem Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers aufrechtzuerhalten.
• Aspekt 13. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 11, wobei der Bodenabschnitt jedes Einsatzes derart gefaltet ist, dass erste Abschnitte des Bodenabschnitts des Einsatzes in Kontakt mit dem Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers stehen und zweite Abschnitte des Bodenabschnitts des Einsatzes von dem Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers beabstandet sind.
• Aspekt 14. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 10, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz direkt an dem Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers angebracht und fixiert ist.
• Aspekt 15. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 14, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes nicht an der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers befestigt ist, sodass der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes derart konfiguriert ist, dass er sich frei biegen und relativ zu dem Becherkörper bewegen kann.
• Aspekt 16. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 15, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers relativ zu dem unteren Ende des Bechers ausgespart ist, sodass eine untere Fläche des Bodens jedes Bechers von dem oberen Rand des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes, der in dem Hohlraum des in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers angeordnet ist, beabstandet ist, wenn die mehreren Becher in dem Stapel angeordnet sind.
• Aspekt 17. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 16, wobei jeder Becherkörper Folgendes umfasst:
  • ein Seitenwandelement, das die Seitenwand des Becherkörpers bildet, wobei das Seitenwandelement an einem unteren Ende gefaltet ist, um einen gefalteten Abschnitt des Seitenwandelements zu bilden; und
  • ein Bodenelement mit einem horizontalen Abschnitt, der den Boden des Hohlraums bildet, und einem Flanschabschnitt, der sich von dem horizontalen Abschnitt erstreckt, wobei der Flanschabschnitt des Bodenelements in dem gefalteten Abschnitt des Seitenwandelements angeordnet und an dem gefalteten Abschnitt des Seitenwandelements angebracht ist.
• Aspekt 18. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 17, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher das Bodenelement und der Einsatz aus demselben Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind.
• Aspekt 19. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 18, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher eine oder mehrere Lücken zwischen der Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes und einer Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers an dem oberen Rand des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes vorhanden sind.
• Aspekt 20. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 19, wobei die abwechselnden Rippen und Rillen eine Vielzahl von V-förmigen Segmenten sowohl an der Innen- als auch an der Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts jedes Einsatzes bilden.
• Aspekt 21. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 20, der ferner wenigstens eine Öffnung aufweist, die durch den Seitenwandabschnitt jedes Einsatzes ausgebildet ist, damit eine in den Hohlraum des Becherkörpers eingeführte Flüssigkeit zwischen der Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes und der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers fließen kann.
• Aspekt 22. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 1 bis 21, wobei sowohl der Einsatz als auch der Becherkörper aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt und frei von Polyethylen sind.
• Aspekt 23. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, wobei jeder Becher Folgendes umfasst:
    • einen Becherkörper der aus einem ersten Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist, wobei der Becherkörper eine Seitenwand und einen Boden umfasst, die zusammen einen Hohlraum mit einer Hohlraumachse definieren; und
    • einen Einsatz, der in dem Hohlraum angeordnet ist, wobei der Einsatz einen oberen Rand aufweist, der von dem Boden des Becherkörpers beabstandet ist, und wobei der Einsatz aus einem zweiten Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist;
    • eine Pulverzutat, die sich in dem Hohlraum jedes der mehreren Becher befindet; und
  wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass ein Abschnitt jedes der mehreren Becher in den Hohlraum eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers passt und ein unteres Ende jedes der mehreren Becher auf dem oberen Rand des Einsatzes des in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers aufliegt.
• Aspekt 24. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 23, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz derart in dem Hohlraum des Becherkörpers angeordnet ist, dass ein unteres Ende des Einsatzes in Kontakt mit dem Boden des Becherkörpers steht.
• Aspekt 25. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 24, wobei das untere Ende des Einsatzes fest mit dem Boden des Becherkörpers verbunden ist und wobei ein Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes nicht fest mit der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers verbunden ist, sodass der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes relativ zu der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers frei beweglich bleibt.
• Aspekt 26. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 23 bis 25, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz einen Seitenwandabschnitt mit einer gewellten Außenfläche, die der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers, in dem der Einsatz angeordnet ist, zugewandt ist, und eine der gewellten Außenfläche gegenüberliegende gewellte Innenfläche aufweist.
• Aspekt 27. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 26, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes ein unteres Ende aufweist, das an den Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers angrenzt, und wobei ein zwischen einem äußersten Abschnitt der Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes und einer Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers gemessener Abstand abnimmt, wenn man sich von dem unteren Ende des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes zu dem oberen Ende der Seitenwand des Einsatzes bewegt.
• Aspekt 28. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 27, wobei der an dem unteren Ende des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes gemessene Durchmesser des Einsatzes kleiner ist als der an dem Boden des Hohlraums gemessene Durchmesser des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers.
• Aspekt 29. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 23, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher ein unteres Ende des Einsatzes in Kontakt mit dem Boden des Becherkörpers steht, wobei jeder Einsatz ringförmig ist und eine der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers zugewandte glatte Außenfläche und eine der glatten Außenfläche gegenüberliegende glatte Innenfläche aufweist und wobei der obere Rand des Einsatzes von einer Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers vorsteht, um eine Leiste zu bilden, auf der das untere Ende eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers ruht, damit das untere Ende des in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers von dem Boden des in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers beabstandet bleibt.
• Aspekt 30. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 23, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz ein ringförmiges Stützelement umfasst, das eine der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers zugewandte Außenfläche und eine der Außenfläche gegenüberliegende Innenfläche umfasst, wobei die Innenfläche eine Vielzahl von beabstandeten vorstehenden Abschnitten umfasst, die sich nach innen zu der Hohlraumachse des Becherkörpers erstrecken, wobei jeder vorstehende Abschnitt eine Leiste bildet, auf der das untere Ende eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers ruht, damit das untere Ende des in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers von dem Boden des in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers beabstandet bleibt.
• Aspekt 31. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 30, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz eine integrale Struktur ist, die aus dem zweiten Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist, sodass die vorstehenden Abschnitte auf der Innenfläche des ringförmigen Verstärkungselements Aussparungen auf der Außenfläche des ringförmigen Stützelements bilden, wobei Lücken zwischen der Außenfläche des Einsatzes und der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers an Stellen vorhanden sind, die ringsum mit den vorstehenden Abschnitten der Innenfläche des Einsatzes ausgerichtet sind.
• Aspekt 32. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 23, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz Folgendes umfasst:
  • ein ringförmiges Verstärkungselement mit einer glatten Außenfläche, die angrenzend an die Seitenwand des Becherkörpers angeordnet ist, und einer der glatten Außenfläche gegenüberliegenden glatten Innenfläche; und
  • ein ringförmiges Stützelement, das mit der glatten Innenfläche des ringförmigen Verstärkungselements verbunden ist, wobei das ringförmige Stützelement mehrere beabstandete vorstehende Abschnitte aufweist, die nach innen zu der Hohlraumachse des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers vorstehen, wobei jeder der vorstehenden Abschnitte eine Leiste bildet, auf der das untere Ende eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers ruht.
• Aspekt 33. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 23, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz einen Bodenabschnitt, der in Kontakt mit einer oberen Fläche des Bodens des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers angeordnet und fest damit verbunden ist, und einen Seitenwandabschnitt umfasst, der sich von dem Bodenabschnitt zu dem oberen Rand des Einsatzes erstreckt, wobei der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes relativ zu dem Becherkörper nicht befestigt ist.
• Aspekt 34. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 33, bei dem der Seitenwandabschnitt jedes Einsatzes derart gewellt ist, dass sowohl eine Innenfläche als auch eine Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes im Querschnitt eine Reihe benachbarter V-Formen aufweist.
• Aspekt 35. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 33 oder 34, wobei jeder Einsatz ein Loch in dem Bodenabschnitt aufweist.
• Aspekt 36. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 23 bis 35, wobei bei jedem der mehreren Becher der Einsatz vollständig in dem Hohlraum des Becherkörpers angeordnet ist.
• Aspekt 37. Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Bechers, umfassend:
  • Anbringen eines Stützelements an einer Fläche eines Becherrohlings;
  • Rollen des Becherrohlings in eine zylindrische oder konische Form, um eine Seitenwand eines Becherkörpers herzustellen, sodass die Fläche des Becherrohlings eine Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers bildet und das Stützelement von der Innenfläche der Seitenwand in ein Inneres des Becherkörpers ragt; und
  • Anbringen eines Bodenelements an der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers, um einen Boden des Becherkörpers herzustellen, wobei der Becherkörper und das Stützelement gemeinsam den Becher bilden.
• Aspekt 38. Verfahren nach Aspekt 37, wobei das Stützelement und der Becherrohling aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt werden und das Stützelement durch Ultraschallkleben an der Fläche des Becherrohlings angebracht wird.
• Aspekt 39. Verfahren nach Aspekt 37 oder 38, wobei das Stützelement eine Vielzahl von beabstandeten vorstehenden Abschnitten umfasst, die von der Innenfläche der Seitenwand in das Innere des Becherkörpers ragen.
• Aspekt 40. Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Becherstapels für einen Getränkeautomaten, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:
  • Herstellen mehrerer Becher gemäß dem Verfahren nach einem der Aspekte 37 bis 39; Einbringen einer Pulverzutat in einen Hohlraum jedes Bechers; und Stapeln der Becher durch Einsetzen jedes Bechers in den Hohlraum eines unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers, wobei ein unteres Ende jedes Bechers auf dem Stützelement des unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers ruht.
• Aspekt 41. Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Becherstapels für einen Getränkeautomaten, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:
  • Herstellen eines Becherkörpers aus einem ersten Material auf Papierbasis;
  • Herstellen eines Einsatzes aus einem zweiten Material auf Papierbasis auf einem Dorn;
  • Gleiten des Becherkörpers über den Dorn, während der Einsatz auf dem Dorn angeordnet bleibt, und Verkleben des Einsatzes mit dem Becherkörper, wodurch ein Becher hergestellt wird;
  • Einbringen einer Pulverzutat in einen Hohlraum des Bechers, sodass die Pulverzutat wenigstens teilweise von dem Einsatz umgeben ist; und
  • Stapeln mehrerer Becher durch Einsetzen jedes Bechers in den Hohlraum eines unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers, wobei ein unteres Ende jedes Bechers auf einem oberen Rand des Einsatzes ruht, der an dem Becherkörper des unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers befestigt ist.
• Aspekt 42. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, die aus einem ersten Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind, wobei jeder Becher eine Innenfläche, die einen Hohlraum definiert, eine der Innenfläche gegenüberliegende Außenfläche und einen Rand aufweist;
  • eine Manschette, die um einen Abschnitt der Außenfläche jedes Bechers angeordnet ist, sodass ein oberer Rand der Manschette in Kontakt mit einer Unterseite des Randes des Bechers steht, wobei die Manschette aus einem zweiten Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist; und
  • wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass jeder der mehreren Becher in den Hohlraum eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers passt und ein unterer Rand der um jeden Becher herum angeordneten Manschette auf dem Rand des in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers aufliegt.
• Aspekt 43. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 42, wobei eine zwischen dem unteren und dem oberen Rand der Manschette gemessene Höhe der Manschette zwischen 10 % und 20 % einer zwischen einem unteren Ende des Bechers und der Unterseite des Becherrandes gemessenen Höhe des Bechers beträgt.
• Aspekt 44. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 42 oder 43, wobei eine zwischen einer dem Becher zugewandten Innenfläche der Manschette und einer von dem Becher abgewandten Außenfläche der Manschette gemessene Dicke jeder Manschette von dem oberen Rand der Manschette zu dem unteren Rand der Manschette kontinuierlich zunimmt.
• Aspekt 45. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 42 bis 44, der ferner eine Pulverzutat in dem Hohlraum eines jeden Bechers umfasst und wobei die Manschette derart konfiguriert ist, dass sie einen ausreichenden Abstand von Becher zu Becher zwischen benachbarten Bechern in dem Stapel aufrechterhält, damit sichergestellt ist, dass ein unteres Ende eines jeden Bechers von der Pulverzutat im in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Becher beabstandet ist.
• Aspekt 46. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, die aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind, wobei jeder Becher Folgendes umfasst:
    • einen Becherkörper mit einer Seitenwand, die einen Hohlraum mit einem Boden und einer Hohlraumachse umgibt; und
    • einen Einsatz, der in dem Hohlraum angeordnet ist, wobei jeder Einsatz einen an dem Boden des Becherkörpers befestigten Bodenabschnitt und einen sich von dem Bodenabschnitt nach oben erstreckenden und in einem oberen Rand endenden Seitenwandabschnitt umfasst;
    • eine Pulverzutat, die sich in dem Hohlraum jedes der mehreren Becher befindet; und wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet ist, sodass ein unteres Ende jedes der mehreren Becher auf dem oberen Rand des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers aufliegt.
• Aspekt 47. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 46, wobei der Seitenwandabschnitt jedes Einsatzes gewellt ist.
• Aspekt 48. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 46, wobei der Seitenwandabschnitt jedes Einsatzes eine glatte Innenfläche und eine glatte Außenfläche aufweist und wobei der obere Rand des Seitenwandabschnitts jedes Einsatzes eine Dicke von wenigstens 0,8 mm aufweist.
• Aspekt 49. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 46 bis 48, wobei jeder Einsatz aus einem zweiten Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist, sodass die Becher derart konfiguriert sind, dass sie als Papier recycelt werden können.
• Aspekt 50. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 46, bei dem der Seitenwandabschnitt jedes Einsatzes eine doppelwandige Struktur ist, die durch Falten des Seitenwandabschnitts entlang eines Faltbereichs hergestellt wird, wobei der Faltbereich den oberen Rand des Seitenwandabschnitts bildet, auf dem das untere Ende eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers aufliegt.
• Aspekt 51. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, die aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind, wobei jeder Becher Folgendes umfasst:
    • einen Hohlraum mit einer Hohlraumachse;
    • eine Seitenwand mit einem Rand; und
    • ein Bodenelement, das ein oberes Ende, einen Boden, einen sich von dem Boden zu dem oberen Ende erstreckenden inneren ringförmigen Flansch und einen äußeren ringförmigen Flansch umfasst, der sich von dem oberen Ende an einer Position nach unten erstreckt, die radial außerhalb des inneren ringförmigen Flansches liegt, sodass der äußere ringförmige Flansch den inneren ringförmigen Flansch und den Boden umgibt und von diesen beabstandet ist, wobei der äußere ringförmige Flansch mit einem unteren Ende der Seitenwand verbunden ist, wobei der Boden und der innere ringförmige Flansch einen Bodenabschnitt des Hohlraums bilden, der unterhalb des oberen Endes des Bodenelements ausgespart ist;
    • eine Pulverzutat, die sich wenigstens in dem unteren Abschnitt des Hohlraums jedes der mehreren Becher befindet; und
  wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass ein unteres Ende jedes der mehreren Becher auf dem oberen Ende des Bodenelements eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers aufliegt.
• Aspekt 52. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, die aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind, wobei jeder Becher Folgendes umfasst:
    • eine Seitenwand, die sich von einem offenen unteren Ende zu einem offenen oberen Ende erstreckt;
    • ein Bodenelement, das mit der Seitenwand verbunden ist, um das offene untere Ende der Seitenwand zu schließen und einen Hohlraum des Bechers zu bilden, wobei das Bodenelement Folgendes umfasst:
      • einen oberen Rand;
      • einen Bodenabschnitt und einen ersten Seitenwandabschnitt, die gemeinsam einen Pulverzutatenabschnitt des Hohlraums definieren, wobei der Pulverzutatenabschnitt des Hohlraums ein Bodenabschnitt des Hohlraums ist; und
      • einen ringförmige Erhebungsabschnitt, der ein distales Ende aufweist, das sich unterhalb des Bodenabschnitts befindet;
      • eine Pulverzutat, die sich wenigstens in dem Pulverzutatenhohlraum des Bodenelements jedes der mehreren Becher befindet; und
  wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass der ringförmige Erhebungsabschnitt des Bodenelements jedes der mehreren auf dem oberen Rand des Bodenelements eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers aufliegt.
• Aspekt 53. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 52, bei dem das Bodenelement ferner eine zweite Seitenwand aufweist, die radial außerhalb der ersten Seitenwand angeordnet ist und den ringförmigen Erhebungsabschnitt aufweist, wobei die zweite Seitenwand des Bodenelements direkt mit der Seitenwand des Bechers verbunden ist.
• Aspekt 54. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 52, ferner umfassend:
  • Seitenwandabschnitt des Bodenelements, der eine Rille aufweist, die sich von dem oberen Rand des Bodenelements bis zu einer Schulter erstreckt, wobei ein unterer Abschnitt der Seitenwand des Bechers in Rille eingreift, wobei ein unterer Rand der Seitenwand des Bechers an der Schulter anliegt; und
  • wobei der ringförmige Erhebungsabschnitt des Bodenelements zwischen dem Seitenwandabschnitt des Bodenelements und dem Boden des Bodenelements angeordnet ist.
• Aspekt 55. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, wobei jeder Becher eine Seitenwand und einen Boden umfasst, die einen Hohlraum mit einer Hohlraumachse definieren, wobei die Seitenwand eingerollt ist, um einen Rand an einem oberen Ende des Bechers zu bilden, wobei die Seitenwand eine Außenfläche mit einer nach unten weisenden Schulter umfasst, die von dem Rand weg weist;
  • wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass wenigstens ein Abschnitt jedes der mehreren Becher in dem Hohlraum eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers angeordnet ist und die nach unten weisende Schulter eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers auf dem Rand des unmittelbar in dem Stapel darunter liegenden Bechers aufliegt, um einen Becher-zu-Becher-Abstand zwischen benachbarten Bechern in dem Stapel aufrechtzuerhalten.
• Aspekt 56. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 55, der ferner eine Pulverzutat umfasst, die sich in dem Hohlraum jedes der mehreren Becher befindet, und wobei der Becher-zu-Becher-Abstand ausreicht, um sicherzustellen, dass ein unteres Ende eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darüber liegenden Bechers die Pulverzutat im in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Becher nicht berührt.
• Aspekt 57. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 55 oder 56, wobei die Seitenwand einen ersten Abschnitt umfasst, der sich von dem Boden bis zu der nach unten weisenden Schulter erstreckt, und einen zweiten Abschnitt, der sich von der nach unten weisenden Schulter bis zu dem Rand erstreckt, wobei der erste und der zweite Abschnitt der Seitenwand in unterschiedlichen Winkeln relativ zu der Hohlraumachse des Bechers ausgerichtet sind.
• Aspekt 58. Becherstapel nach Aspekt 57, wobei der erste Abschnitt der Seitenwand in einem spitzen Winkel relativ zu der Hohlraumachse des Bechers ausgerichtet ist und der zweite Abschnitt der Seitenwand parallel zu der Hohlraumachse des Bechers verläuft.
• Aspekt 59. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 55 bis 58, wobei die nach unten weisende Schulter auf den oberen 20 % der Länge der Seitenwand des Bechers angeordnet ist.
• Aspekt 60. Becherstapel nach einem der Aspekte 55 bis 59, wobei jeder Becher in dem Stapel aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist.
• Aspekt 61. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, die aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind, wobei jeder Becher Folgendes umfasst:
    • einen Becherkörper mit einer Seitenwand, die einen Hohlraum mit einem Boden und einer Hohlraumachse umgibt; und
    • einen Einsatz, der in dem Hohlraum des Becherkörpers angeordnet ist, wobei jeder Einsatz ein unteres Ende, das an den Boden des Hohlraums des Becherkörpers angrenzt, und ein zu dem unteren Ende entgegengesetzt liegendes oberes Ende aufweist, und wobei ein zwischen einem äußersten Abschnitt der Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes und einer Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers gemessener Abstand von dem unteren Ende des Einsatzes zu dem oberen Ende des Einsatzes abnimmt;
    • eine Pulverzutat, die sich in dem Hohlraum jedes der mehreren Becher befindet; und wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass ein unteres Ende jedes der mehreren Becher auf dem oberen Rand des Einsatzes eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers ruht.
• Aspekt 62. Becherstapel, umfassend:
  • mehrere Becher, die aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt sind, wobei jeder Becher Folgendes umfasst:
    • einen Becherkörper mit einer Seitenwand, die einen Hohlraum mit einem Boden und einer Hohlraumachse umgibt, wobei die Seitenwand in einem ersten Winkel relativ zu der Hohlraumachse ausgerichtet ist; und
    • einen Einsatz, der in dem Hohlraum des Becherkörpers angeordnet ist, wobei jeder Einsatz einen Seitenwandabschnitt mit einer Leiste oder einem Vorsprung umfasst, wobei ein äußerster Abschnitt des Seitenwandabschnitts in einem zweiten Winkel relativ zu der Hohlraumachse ausgerichtet ist, wobei der zweite Winkel größer ist als der erste Winkel;
    • eine Pulverzutat, die sich in dem Hohlraum jedes der mehreren Becher befindet; und wobei die mehreren Becher in einem Stapel angeordnet sind, sodass ein unteres Ende jedes der mehreren Becher auf der Leiste oder dem Vorsprung des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes eines in dem Stapel unmittelbar darunter liegenden Bechers ruht.
• Aspekt 63. Pappbecher, umfassend:
  • einen Becherkörper, der aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist, wobei der Becherkörper eine Seitenwand und einen Boden umfasst, die zusammen einen Hohlraum mit einer Hohlraumachse definieren; und
  • einen Einsatz, der aus einem Material auf Papierbasis hergestellt ist, wobei der Einsatz in dem Hohlraum des Becherkörpers angrenzend an den Boden angeordnet ist, wobei der Einsatz eine Leiste oder einen Vorsprung aufweist, die axial von dem Boden beabstandet ist und die nach innen von einer Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers zu der Hohlraumachse vorsteht.
• Aspekt 64. Pappbecher nach Aspekt 63, wobei der Einsatz einen Bodenabschnitt umfasst, der an den Boden des Becherkörpers angrenzt, und einen Seitenwandabschnitt, der sich von dem Bodenabschnitt entlang der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers nach oben erstreckt.
• Aspekt 65. Pappbecher nach Aspekt 64, wobei der Bodenabschnitt des Einsatzes mit dem Boden des Becherkörpers verklebt ist und der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes nicht mit dem Becherkörper verklebt oder anderweitig daran angebracht ist.
• Aspekt 66. Pappbecher nach Aspekt 64 oder 65, wobei der Seitenwandabschnitt des Einsatzes gewellt ist.
• Aspekt 67. Pappbecher nach einem der Aspekte 64 bis 66, wobei die Seitenwand des Becherkörpers in einem ersten Winkel relativ zu der Hohlraumachse ausgerichtet ist und ein äußerster Abschnitt des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes in einem zweiten Winkel relativ zu der Hohlraumachse ausgerichtet ist, wobei der zweite Winkel größer ist als der erste Winkel.
• Aspekt 68. Pappbecher nach einem der Aspekte 64 bis 67, wobei ein zwischen einem äußersten Abschnitt einer Außenfläche des Seitenwandabschnitts des Einsatzes und einer Innenfläche der Seitenwand des Becherkörpers gemessener Abstand von dem Boden des Hohlraums zu einem oberen Ende des Hohlraums abnimmt.

General aspects are listed below:

• Aspect 1. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising:
  • a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis; and
  • an insert disposed in the cavity of the cup body, the insert comprising a sidewall portion having an inner surface facing the cavity axis of the cup body, an outer surface facing the sidewall of the cup body, and a top edge, the sidewall portion of the insert being corrugated such that the inner - and outer surfaces comprise alternating ribs and grooves;
  • a powder ingredient located within the cavity of each of the plurality of cups, the powder ingredient being at least partially surrounded by the sidewall portion of the insert; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top rim of the sidewall portion of the insert of a cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 2. The stack of cups of aspect 1 wherein, for each of the plurality of cups, the sidewall portion of the liner has a lower end adjacent the bottom of the cavity of the cup body and a spacer between an outermost portion of the outer surface of the sidewall portion of the liner and an inner surface of the The distance measured from the sidewall of the cup body decreases as one moves from the lower end of the sidewall portion of the liner to the upper end of the sidewall portion of the liner.
• Aspect 3. The stack of cups of aspect 2, wherein the outer diameter of the liner measured at the lower end of the sidewall portion of the liner is smaller than that measured at the bottom of the cavity Diameter of the cavity of the cup body in which the insert is placed.
• Aspect 4. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein for each of the plurality of cups, the sidewall of the cup body is oriented at a first angle relative to the cavity axis and at least a portion of the sidewall portion of the insert is oriented at a second angle relative to the cavity axis , where the second angle is larger than the first angle.
• Aspect 5. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein each liner and each cup body is made from a paper-based material such that each of the plurality of cups is configured to be recycled as paper.
• Aspect 6. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 1 to 5, each insert further comprising a bottom portion having an outer edge from which the sidewall portion extends, and wherein each of the plurality of cups has the bottom portion of the insert adjacent the bottom of the cavity of the cup body .
• Aspect 7. A stack of cups according to aspect 6, further comprising a hole in the bottom portion of each tray.
• Aspect 8. The stack of cups of aspect 7 wherein in each use the diameter of the hole in the base portion is less than the radius of the base portion.
• Aspect 9. A stack of cups according to any one of aspects 7 to 8, wherein in each insert the base portion includes an inner edge defining a perimeter of the hole and an outer edge from which the sidewall portion extends and wherein a along any diameter of the Floor section measured linear distance between the outer edge and the inner edge is constant.
• Aspect 10. A stack of cups according to any one of aspects 7 to 9, wherein in each insert the value of the difference between a radius of the bottom and a radius of the hole is constant anywhere along the bottom portion of the insert.
• Aspect 11. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 6 to 10, wherein in each of the plurality of cups, the bottom portion of the insert has a bottom surface facing the bottom of the cup body and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the bottom portion of the Insert is spaced from the bottom of the cavity of the cup.
• Aspect 12. The stack of cups of aspect 11 including one or more spacers positioned between the bottom surface of the bottom portion of the liner and the bottom of the cup body cavity to create a gap between the bottom surface of the bottom portion of the liner and the bottom of the cup body cavity to maintain.
• Aspect 13. The stack of cups of aspect 11, wherein the bottom portion of each liner is folded such that first portions of the bottom portion of the liner are in contact with the bottom of the cavity of the cup body and second portions of the bottom portion of the liner are spaced from the bottom of the cavity of the cup body .
• Aspect 14. The stack of cups according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein each of the plurality of cups has the insert attached and fixed directly to the bottom of the cavity of the cup body.
• Aspect 15. The stack of cups of aspect 14 wherein each of the plurality of cups has the sidewall portion of the liner unattached to the sidewall of the cup body such that the sidewall portion of the liner is configured to freely flex and move relative to the cup body.
• Aspect 16. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 1 to 15, wherein each of the plurality of cups has the cup body cavity bottom recessed relative to the bottom of the cup such that a bottom surface of the bottom of each cup is separated from the top edge of the sidewall portion of the insert , which is placed in the cavity of the cup immediately below in the stack, is spaced when the plurality of cups are placed in the stack.
• Aspect 17. A stack of cups according to any one of aspects 1 to 16, each cup body comprising:
  • a side wall member forming the side wall of the cup body, the side wall member being folded at a lower end to form a side wall member folded portion; and
  • a floor member having a horizontal portion forming the bottom of the cavity and a flange portion extending from the horizontal portion, the flange portion of the floor member being in the folded portion of the side wall member and attached to the folded portion of the side wall member.
• Aspect 18. The stack of cups of aspect 17 wherein each of the plurality of cups has the bottom member and the liner made from the same paper-based material.
• Aspect 19. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 1-18, wherein each of the plurality of cups has one or more gaps between the outer surface of the sidewall portion of the liner and an inner surface of the sidewall of the cup body at the top edge of the liner sidewall portion.
• Aspect 20. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 1 to 19 wherein the alternating ridges and grooves form a plurality of V-shaped segments on both the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall portion of each insert.
• Aspect 21. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 1 to 20, further comprising at least one opening formed through the sidewall portion of each liner to allow liquid introduced into the cavity of the cup body to flow between the outer surface of the sidewall portion of the liner and the sidewall of the cup body can.
• Aspect 22. A stack of cups according to any one of aspects 1 to 21 wherein both the liner and the cup body are made of a paper based material and are free of polyethylene.
• Aspect 23. Stack of cups comprising:
  • multiple cups, each cup including:
    • a cup body made from a first paper-based material, the cup body including a sidewall and a bottom that together define a cavity having a cavity axis; and
    • a liner disposed in the cavity, the liner having a top rim spaced from the bottom of the cup body, and the liner being made of a second paper-based material;
    • a powder ingredient located in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and
  wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a portion of each of the plurality of cups fits within the cavity of a cup immediately below in the stack and a bottom end of each of the plurality of cups on the top edge of the insert of the cup immediately below in the stack cup rests.
• Aspect 24. The stack of cups of aspect 23, wherein each of the plurality of cups has the insert positioned within the cavity of the cup body such that a lower end of the insert contacts the bottom of the cup body.
• Aspect 25. The stack of cups of aspect 24, wherein the bottom end of the liner is fixedly connected to the bottom of the cup body and wherein a sidewall portion of the liner is not fixedly connected to the sidewall of the cup body such that the sidewall portion of the liner is free relative to the sidewall of the cup body remains flexible.
• Aspect 26. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 23 to 25, wherein in each of the plurality of cups, the insert has a sidewall portion having a corrugated outer surface facing the sidewall of the cup body in which the insert is disposed, and a corrugated outer surface opposite the corrugated surface has inner surface.
• Aspect 27. The stack of cups of aspect 26, wherein in each of the plurality of cups, the sidewall portion of the liner has a lower end adjacent the bottom of the cavity of the cup body, and wherein an outermost portion of the outer surface of the sidewall portion of the liner and an inner surface of the The distance measured from the sidewall of the cup body decreases as one moves from the bottom of the sidewall portion of the liner to the top of the sidewall of the liner.
• Aspect 28. The stack of cups of aspect 27 wherein the diameter of the liner measured at the lower end of the sidewall portion of the liner is less than the diameter of the cavity of the cup body measured at the bottom of the cavity.
• Aspect 29. The stack of cups of aspect 23, wherein each of the plurality of cups has a lower end of the insert in contact with the bottom of the cup body, each insert being annular and having a smooth outer surface facing the side wall of the cup body and a smooth inner surface opposite the smooth outer surface and wherein the top edge of the insert projects from an inner surface of the side wall of the cup body to form a ledge on which the bottom of a cup immediately above in the stack to keep the bottom of the cup immediately above in the stack clear of the bottom of the cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 30. The stack of cups of aspect 23, wherein in each of the plurality of cups, the insert comprises an annular support member comprising an outer surface facing the sidewall of the cup body and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the inner surface comprising a plurality of spaced projecting portions that are extending inwardly towards the cavity axis of the cup body, each protruding portion forming a ledge on which the lower end of a cup immediately above in the stack rests to allow the lower end of the cup immediately above in the stack to be lifted from the bottom of the cup in the Stack remains spaced from cup immediately below.
• Aspect 31. The stack of cups of aspect 30, wherein in each of the plurality of cups, the insert is an integral structure made from the second paper-based material such that the protruding portions on the inner surface of the annular reinforcing member form recesses on the outer surface of the annular support member, there being gaps between the outer surface of the liner and the sidewall of the cup body at locations circumferentially aligned with the protruding portions of the inner surface of the liner.
• Aspect 32. The stack of cups of aspect 23, wherein for each of the plurality of cups the insert comprises:
  • an annular reinforcing member having a smooth outer surface disposed adjacent the sidewall of the cup body and a smooth inner surface opposite the smooth outer surface; and
  • an annular support member bonded to the smooth inner surface of the annular reinforcing member, the annular support member having a plurality of spaced projecting portions projecting inwardly toward the cavity axis of the cup body cavity, each of the projecting portions forming a ridge upon which the lower end of a cup immediately above it in the stack.
• Aspect 33. The stack of cups of aspect 23, wherein in each of the plurality of cups, the insert comprises a bottom portion disposed in contact with and fixedly connected to an upper surface of the bottom of the cavity of the cup body, and a sidewall portion extending from the bottom portion toward the top edge of the liner, with the sidewall portion of the liner being unfixed relative to the cup body.
• Aspect 34. The stack of cups of aspect 33 wherein the sidewall portion of each liner is corrugated such that both an inner surface and an outer surface of the sidewall portion of the liner have a series of adjacent V-shapes in cross-section.
• Aspect 35. A stack of cups according to aspect 33 or 34, wherein each insert has a hole in the bottom portion.
• Aspect 36. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 23 to 35, wherein each of the plurality of cups has the insert disposed entirely within the cavity of the cup body.
• Aspect 37. A method of making a cup, comprising:
  • attaching a support member to a face of a cup blank;
  • rolling the cup blank into a cylindrical or conical shape to form a sidewall of a cup body such that the surface of the cup blank forms an inner surface of the sidewall of the cup body and the support member protrudes from the inner surface of the sidewall into an interior of the cup body; and
  • attaching a bottom member to the side wall of the cup body to form a bottom of the cup body, the cup body and the support member together forming the cup.
• Aspect 38. The method of aspect 37, wherein the support member and the cup blank are made from a paper-based material and the support member is attached to the surface of the cup blank by ultrasonic bonding.
• Aspect 39. The method of aspect 37 or 38, wherein the support member comprises a plurality of spaced projecting portions projecting from the inner surface of the sidewall into the interior of the cup body.
• Aspect 40. A method of making a stack of cups for a beverage dispenser, the method comprising:
  • making a plurality of cups according to the method of any one of aspects 37 to 39; Loading a powder ingredient into a cavity each cup; and stacking the cups by inserting each cup into the cavity of a cup immediately below with a lower end of each cup resting on the support member of the cup immediately below.
• Aspect 41. A method of making a stack of cups for a beverage dispenser, the method comprising:
  • making a cup body from a first paper-based material;
  • forming an insert from a second paper-based material on a mandrel;
  • sliding the cup body over the mandrel while the insert remains positioned on the mandrel and gluing the insert to the cup body, thereby forming a cup;
  • placing a powder ingredient into a cavity of the cup such that the powder ingredient is at least partially surrounded by the insert; and
  • Stacking multiple cups by inserting each cup into the cavity of a cup immediately below it, with a lower end of each cup resting on an upper rim of the insert attached to the cup body of the cup immediately below.
• Aspect 42. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups made from a first paper-based material, each cup having an inner surface defining a cavity, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and a rim;
  • a cuff disposed about a portion of the outer surface of each cup such that an upper rim of the cuff is in contact with a bottom of the rim of the cup, the cuff being made of a second paper-based material; and
  • wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that each of the plurality of cups fits within the cavity of a cup immediately below it in the stack and a bottom edge of the collar positioned around each cup rests on the rim of the cup immediately below it in the stack .
• Aspect 43. The stack of cups of aspect 42, wherein a height of the cup measured between a bottom and top edge of the cup is between 10% and 20% of a height of the cup measured between a bottom end of the cup and the bottom of the cup rim.
• Aspect 44. The stack of cups of aspect 42 or 43, wherein a thickness of each cup, measured between a cup-facing inner surface of the cup and a cup-distal cup outer surface of the cup, of each cup increases continuously from the top edge of the cup to the bottom edge of the cup.
• Aspect 45. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 42 to 44, further comprising a powder ingredient in the cavity of each cup and wherein the collar is configured to maintain sufficient cup-to-cup spacing between adjacent cups in the stack to ensure is that a lower end of each cup is spaced from the powder ingredient in the cup immediately below it in the stack.
• Aspect 46. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising:
    • a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis; and
    • a liner disposed in the cavity, each liner including a base portion attached to the base of the cup body and a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion and terminating in a top rim;
    • a powder ingredient located in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top edge of the sidewall portion of the insert of a cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 47. The stack of cups of aspect 46 wherein the sidewall portion of each insert is corrugated.
• Aspect 48. A stack of cups according to aspect 46 wherein the sidewall portion of each insert has a smooth inner surface and a smooth outer surface and wherein the top edge of the sidewall portion of each insert has a thickness of at least 0.8mm.
• Aspect 49. A stack of cups according to any one of aspects 46 to 48, wherein each insert is made from a second paper-based material is made so that the cups are configured in such a way that they can be recycled as paper.
• Aspect 50. The stack of cups according to aspect 46, wherein the side wall portion of each insert is a double-walled structure made by folding the side wall portion along a fold area, the fold area forming the top edge of the side wall portion on which the bottom end of one in the stack is proximate overlying cup rests.
• Aspect 51. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising:
    • a cavity having a cavity axis;
    • a side wall with a rim; and
    • a bottom member including a top end, a bottom, an inner annular flange extending from the bottom to the top end, and an outer annular flange extending downward from the top end at a position radially outward of the inner annular flange flange is located such that the outer annular flange surrounds and is spaced from the inner annular flange and the base, the outer annular flange being connected to a lower end of the side wall, the base and the inner annular flange forming a bottom portion of the cavity, which is recessed below the upper end of the floor element;
    • a powder ingredient located at least in the lower portion of the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and
  wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a bottom end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top end of the bottom member of a cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 52. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising:
    • a sidewall extending from an open bottom end to an open top end;
    • a base member connected to the sidewall to close the open lower end of the sidewall and form a cavity of the cup, the base member comprising:
      • a top edge;
      • a bottom portion and a first sidewall portion that together define a powder ingredient portion of the cavity, the powder ingredient portion of the cavity being a bottom portion of the cavity; and
      • an annular ridge portion having a distal end located below the bottom portion;
      • a powder ingredient located at least in the powder ingredient cavity of the bottom member of each of the plurality of cups; and
  wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that the annular raised portion of the bottom member of each of the plurality rests on the top rim of the bottom member of a cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 53. The stack of cups of aspect 52, wherein the base further comprises a second sidewall disposed radially outward of the first sidewall and having the annular ridge portion, the second sidewall of the base member being directly connected to the sidewall of the cup.
• Aspect 54. A stack of cups according to aspect 52, further comprising:
  • A bottom member sidewall portion having a groove extending from the top edge of the bottom member to a shoulder, a bottom portion of the sidewall of the cup engaging the groove, a bottom edge of the cup sidewall abutting the shoulder; and
  • wherein the annular ridge portion of the base member is located between the side wall portion of the base member and the bottom of the base member.
• Aspect 55. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups, each cup comprising a sidewall and a base defining a cavity having a cavity axis, the sidewall curled to form a rim at a top of the cup, the sidewall having an exterior surface with a downwardly facing shoulder comprises facing away from the edge;
  • wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that at least a portion of each of the plurality of cups in the cavity is proximate to one in the stack cup below and the downwardly facing shoulder of a cup immediately above in the stack rests on the rim of the cup immediately below in the stack to maintain cup-to-cup spacing between adjacent cups in the stack.
• Aspect 56. The stack of cups of aspect 55, further comprising a powder ingredient located within the cavity of each of the plurality of cups and wherein the cup-to-cup spacing is sufficient to ensure that a bottom of one in the stack is immediately above lying cup does not touch the powder ingredient in the cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 57. The stack of cups of aspect 55 or 56, wherein the sidewall comprises a first portion extending from the bottom to the downwardly facing shoulder and a second portion extending from the downwardly facing shoulder to the rim wherein the first and second portions of the sidewall are oriented at different angles relative to the cavity axis of the cup.
• Aspect 58. The stack of cups of aspect 57 wherein the first portion of the sidewall is oriented at an acute angle relative to the cavity axis of the cup and the second portion of the sidewall is parallel to the cavity axis of the cup.
• Aspect 59. A stack of cups according to any one of aspects 55 to 58 wherein the downwardly facing shoulder is located on the top 20% of the length of the sidewall of the cup.
• Aspect 60. The stack of cups of any one of aspects 55 to 59, wherein each cup in the stack is made from a paper-based material.
• Aspect 61. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising:
    • a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis; and
    • an insert disposed within the cavity of the cup body, each insert having a lower end adjacent the bottom of the cavity of the cup body and an upper end opposite the lower end, and having a between an outermost portion of the outer surface the distance measured between the sidewall portion of the liner and an inner surface of the sidewall of the cup body decreases from the bottom of the liner to the top of the liner;
    • a powder ingredient located in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a bottom end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the top rim of the liner of a cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 62. Stack of cups comprising:
  • a plurality of cups made from a paper-based material, each cup comprising:
    • a cup body having a sidewall surrounding a cavity having a bottom and a cavity axis, the sidewall being oriented at a first angle relative to the cavity axis; and
    • an insert disposed within the cavity of the cup body, each insert including a sidewall portion having a ledge or protrusion, an outermost portion of the sidewall portion being oriented at a second angle relative to the cavity axis, the second angle being greater than that first angle;
    • a powder ingredient located in the cavity of each of the plurality of cups; and wherein the plurality of cups are arranged in a stack such that a lower end of each of the plurality of cups rests on the ledge or protrusion of the sidewall portion of the insert of a cup immediately below in the stack.
• Aspect 63. Paper cups comprising:
  • a cup body made from a paper-based material, the cup body including a sidewall and a bottom that together define a cavity having a cavity axis; and
  • a liner made of a paper-based material, the liner being disposed in the cavity of the cup body adjacent the base, the liner having a ledge or projection spaced axially from the base and extending inwardly from a Inner surface of the side wall of the cup body protrudes towards the cavity axis.
• Aspect 64. The paperboard cup of aspect 63, wherein the insert comprises a base portion adjacent the base of the cup body, and a side wall portion extending upward from the bottom portion along the side wall of the cup body.
• Aspect 65. The paperboard cup of aspect 64 wherein the bottom portion of the liner is glued to the bottom of the cup body and the sidewall portion of the liner is not glued or otherwise attached to the cup body.
• Aspect 66. A paper cup according to aspect 64 or 65 wherein the sidewall portion of the liner is corrugated.
• Aspect 67. A paperboard cup according to any one of aspects 64 to 66, wherein the sidewall of the cup body is oriented at a first angle relative to the cavity axis and an outermost portion of the sidewall portion of the insert is oriented at a second angle relative to the cavity axis, the second angle is larger than the first angle.
• Aspect 68. The paperboard cup of any one of aspects 64 to 67, wherein a distance measured between an outermost portion of an outer surface of the sidewall portion of the insert and an inner surface of the sidewall of the cup body decreases from the bottom of the cavity to a top of the cavity.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 2195245 B1 [0053]

Claims (15)

Paper cups (200) comprising: a cup body (210) made from a paper-based material, the cup body including a sidewall (211) and a bottom (121) which together define a cavity (215) having a cavity axis (A-A); and an insert (250) made of a paper-based material, the insert (250) being disposed in the cavity (215) of the cup body (210) adjacent or near the bottom (121), the insert (250) a ledge (161) or protrusion axially spaced from the base (121) and extending inwardly from an inner surface (112) of the sidewall (211) of the cup body (210) toward the cavity axis ( AA) presides, the insert (250) extending from a lower end (251) to an upper end (252), the insert (250) having a side wall portion (254), the side wall portion (254) of the insert (250) being pivoted or folded over is such that creases formed by the side wall portion (254) abut against the side wall (211) of the cup body (210). paper cups (200) after claim 1 , wherein the insert (250) is formed without a base portion or has a base portion (153), wherein the base portion (153) is formed with or without a central hole (157). paper cups (200) after claim 1 or 2 wherein the sidewall portion (254) of the insert (250) is corrugated. A paper cup (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall portion (254) of the insert (250) lies flat against the side wall (221) of the cup body (210). paper cups (200) after claim 4 wherein the side wall portion (254) of the liner (250) is laid flat against the side wall (211) of the cup body (210) such that the size of the gap between the bottom surface of the side wall portion (254) of the liner (250) and the inner surface of the Side wall (211) of the cup body (210) is reduced or eliminated. A paper cup (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (250) is connected or fixedly coupled to the cup body (210). paper cups (200) after the claims 2 and 6 wherein the bottom portion (253) of the insert (250) is connected to the bottom (121) of the cup body (210) and the side wall portion (254) of the insert (250) is not connected to or otherwise attached to the cup body (210) or is fixed. paper cups (200) after one of the Claims 1 until 5 wherein the insert (250) is free of fixation relative to the cup body (210) such that it is disposed in the cavity (215) of the cup body (210) without being attached or fixed directly to or with the cup body (210). to be connected. The paper cup (200) of any preceding claim, wherein the sidewall portion (254) of the liner (250) is unattached to the sidewall of the cup body (210), such that the sidewall portion (254) of the liner (250) is configured such that it is free to flex and move relative to the cup body (210). A paper cup (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance measured between an outermost portion of an outer surface of the side wall portion (254) of the insert (250) and an inner surface of the side wall of the cup body (210) decreases as one moves away from the bottom of the cavity (215) to an open top of the cavity (215). A paper cup (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liner (253) and cup body (210) are configured to be recycled as paper. Paper cup (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom of the cavity (215) of the cup body (210) is recessed relative to the lower end (217) of the cup (200) so that when a plurality of cups (200 ) are arranged in a stack, a bottom surface of the bottom of each cup (200) is spaced from an upper edge of the sidewall portion (254) of the insert (253) located at the cavity (215) of the cup immediately below in the stack . A stack (105) of paper cups (200) comprising: a plurality of paper cups (200) particularly according to any one of the preceding claims made from a paper based material, each of the cups comprising: a cup body (210) made from a material made from paper, the cup body (210) comprising a side wall (211) and a bottom (121) which together define a cavity (215) having a cavity axis (AA); and an insert (250) made from a paper-based material, the insert (250) located in the cavity (215) of the cup body (210) near the bottom (121), the insert (250) having a ledge (161) or protrusion axially spaced from the bottom (121) and projecting inwardly from an inner surface (112) of the sidewall (211) of the cup body (210) toward the cavity axis (AA), the insert (250) extending from a bottom end (251) to a top end (252 ), the insert (250) having a side wall portion (254), the side wall portion (254) of the insert (250) being pivoted or folded over such that creases formed by the side wall portion (254) appear on the side wall (211 ) of the cup body (210) come into contact; a powder ingredient (190) located within the cavity (215) of each of the plurality of cups (200), the powder ingredient (190) being at least partially surrounded by the sidewall portion (254) of the insert (250); and wherein the plurality of cups (200) are arrangable or arranged in a stack (105) such that a lower end (217) of each of the plurality of cups (200) rests on the top edge (252) of the side wall portion (254) of the insert (250). of a cup immediately below in the stack (105) rests. Stack (105) of cups (200) after Claim 13 , wherein for each of the plurality of cups (200), the sidewall portion (254) of the insert (253) has a lower end adjacent the bottom of the cavity (215) of the cup body (210) and an intermediate an outermost portion of the outer surface the distance measured between the sidewall portion (254) of the insert (253) and an inner surface of the sidewall (211) of the cup body (210) decreases as one moves from the lower end of the sidewall portion (254) of the insert to the upper end of the sidewall portion of the insert . Stack (105) of cups (200) after Claim 13 or 14 , wherein the outer diameter of the insert (253) measured at the lower end of the sidewall portion (254) of the insert (250) is smaller than the diameter of the cavity (215) of the cup body (210) measured at the bottom of the cavity (215), in which the insert (253) is arranged.

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