EP1397063A1

EP1397063A1 - Tea cup provided with an additional cavity

Info

Publication number: EP1397063A1
Application number: EP02755092A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bachar Kaddour
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-20
Filing date: 2002-06-20
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: FR2826251B1; WO2003000098A1; FR2826251A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cup (11) comprising a main receptacle which is fitted with a handle (14) and an additional cavity (12), said cavity being solidly connected to the receptacle. Moreover, said cavity (12) is provided with a reduced width at the base thereof.

Description

Tea cup with additional cavity

The present invention relates to a tea cup provided with an additional cavity.

When consuming a cup of tea prepared with an infusion bag, the storage of this bag is usually done by placing it in an ashtray, on a saucer or often on the table, which does not is neither clean, aesthetic, nor practical.

We thus know the utility model DE 90 02 911 U which teaches a cup comprising a main container, a handle and an additional cavity provided for the storage of the sachet. However, when the cup is tilted strongly, the bag may fall out of the cavity and it is possible that liquid will leak out.

The present invention thus relates to a cup making it possible to seriously limit, or even avoid, the spillage of any element of the cavity when this cup is tilted. According to the invention, a cup comprises a main container provided with a handle and an additional cavity integral with this container; moreover, this cavity is provided with a narrowing at its base.

Thus, the infusion bag is blocked at the base of the cavity.

According to a first embodiment, the cavity projects from the container, the handle being constituted by a handle.

According to a second embodiment, the cavity is arranged inside the container, the handle here also being constituted by a handle.

According to a third embodiment, the cavity is inserted into the wall of the container projecting on either side of this wall, the handle also being constituted by a handle.

According to a fourth embodiment, the cavity is also inserted into the wall of the container projecting on either side of this wall, but the handle is formed by the part of this cavity which projects from the container.

Preferably, the handle is arranged facing the cavity. Advantageously, the opening of the cavity has an oval or semi-oval shape.

The present invention will now appear in more detail in the context of the description which follows of exemplary embodiments given by way of illustration with reference to the appended figures which represent: FIG. 1a, a sectional diagram of a first embodiment of the cup,

FIG. 1b, a diagram seen from above of this first embodiment,

FIG. 2a, a diagram in section of a second embodiment of the cup,

FIG. 2b, a diagram seen from above of this second embodiment,

FIG. 3a, a diagram in section of a third embodiment of the cup,

FIG. 3b, a diagram seen from above of this third embodiment, FIG. 4a, a diagram in section of a variant of this third embodiment,

FIG. 4b, a diagram seen from above of this variant,

- Figure 5a, a sectional diagram of a fourth embodiment of the cup, and - Figure 5b, a diagram seen from above of this fourth embodiment.

The elements present in several figures are assigned a single reference.

Referring to Figures 1a and 1b, according to a first embodiment, the cup 11 therefore comprises, adjoining the main container, a cavity 12 which, preferably, has a minimum depth of 7.5 centimeters. The top of this cavity, its opening 13, has a semi-oval shape which, advantageously, has minimum dimensions of the order of 1.5 centimeters for the width and 4 centimeters for the length. Here, the cavity 12 located outside the main container, is diametrically opposite the handle 14 of the cup 11. With reference to Figures 2a and 2b, according to a second embodiment, the cavity 22 located inside of the main container, is here also diametrically opposite the handle 24 of the cup 21. The shape of the opening 23 of the cavity 22 is also semi-oval.

Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, according to a third embodiment, the opening 33 of the cavity 32 is of oval shape. This cavity 32 is inserted into the wall of the main container, so that the 2 ends of the greatest length of the opening 33 adjoin the wall of this container. This cavity 32 is diametrically opposite the handle 34 of the cup 31.

With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, according to a variant of the third embodiment, the cavity 42, the opening 43 of which is still oval in shape, is also inserted in the wall of the main container, but here, so that the 2 ends of the largest width of the opening 43 adjoin the wall of this container. This cavity 42 is diametrically opposite the handle 44 of the cup 41. With reference to FIGS. 5a and 5b, according to a fourth embodiment, the cavity 52, the opening 53 of which has an oval shape, is inserted into the wall of the main container to 1/3 the length of this opening 53. The 2/3 external to the wall of the container are shaped to be held in hand so that the cavity 52 acts as a handle 54 of the cup 51.

The proposed dimensions are indicative and the invention applies regardless of the materials used, provided that the cavity gradually narrows towards its base in order to block the infused sachet. Thus, a consumer, as soon as the sachet is placed in the cavity, can taste his infusion without inconvenience.

The embodiments of the invention presented above have been chosen for their practical nature. However, it would not be possible to exhaustively list all the embodiments covered by this invention. In particular, any means described may be replaced by equivalent means without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) Cup 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 comprising a main container provided with a handle 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 and an additional cavity 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 integral with this container, characterized in that said cavity is provided with a narrowing at its base.

2) Cup 11 according to claim 1, characterized in that said 12 cavity projects from said container, said handle being constituted by a handle 14.

3) Cup 21 according to claim 1, characterized in that said cavity 22 is arranged inside said container, said handle being constituted by a handle 24.

4) Cup 31, 41 according to claim 1, characterized in that said cavity 32, 42 is inserted in the wall of said container projecting on either side of this wall, said handle being constituted by a handle 34, 44.

5) Cup 51 according to claim 1, characterized in that said cavity 52 is inserted into the wall of said container projecting on either side of this wall, said handle 54 being constituted by the part of said cavity 52 which forms protrusion from said container.

6) Cup 11, 21, 31, 41 according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said handle 14, 24, 34, 44 is disposed facing said o cavity.

7) Cup 41, 51 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening 43, 53 of said cavity 42, 52 has an oval shape.

8) Cup 11, 21, 31 according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 5 characterized in that the opening 13, 23, 33 of said cavity 12, 22, 32 has a semi-oval shape.