GB2188041A

GB2188041A - Paper cup container and dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2188041A
Application number: GB08607030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chen Chung-Mu
Original assignee: CHUNG MU CHEN
Current assignee: CHUNG MU CHEN
Priority date: 1986-03-21
Filing date: 1986-03-21
Publication date: 1987-09-23
Also published as: GB8607030D0

Abstract

A paper cup container 1 for holding therein a stack of paper cups 21, is made of a flexible and stretchable sheet material, such as thin plastic sheet, which is formed into an elongated sleeve-like shape. At the lower part of the sleeve a relatively narrow passage is provided to form a throat 13. When the paper cups are pulled through the throat, the throat acts to allow only one paper cup to pass through at a time. The container is simultaneously usable as a packing material for paper cups and as a dispenser for paper cups. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Paper cup container This invention relate to a paper cup container, more partiXcularly to a container that can be simultanerously used as a packing material and also as a dispenser for paper cups.

Because of convenience and relatively low manufacturing cost, paper cups are now used in offices, factoris, and shops, as well as at home. However, they are normally packed in stacks when they are delivered from manufacturers or distributors to retailers; in use one must separate the paper cups either by hand or by a suitable dispenser, so that only one cup is used at a time so as to prevent wastage. When separating the stacked paper cups by hand, or loading the dispenser with paper cups the paper cups normally have to undergo an unpacking process, and there is always a chance of contaminating the paper cups during such unpacking process; and a contaminated paper cup may become medium for spreading disease.

In view of the above mentioned problems with paper cups, the present invention offers a novel paper cup container which can be used as a packing material for paper cups and at the same time can readily be used as a dispenser for the paper cups packed therein.

Therefore, it is the main object of this invention to provide a paper cup container from which the paper cups can be withdrawn one after another without the need of unpacking the paper cups from the container, thus minimizing the chance of contaminating the paper cups.

The paper cup container of this invention is composed of an elongated sleeve made of a flexible and stretchable sheet material such as thin plastic sheet, the sleeve having a main body capable of containing therein a stack of paper cups and allowing them to pass therethrough freely, and a lower part provided with a relatively narrow passage to form a throat capable of engaging with the upper flange of the lower-most paper cup of the stack of paper cups contained within the body of the sleeve, so as to hold the stack of paper cups.

The lower-most paper cup may be pulled downwardly by hand to cause the upper flange of the lower-most paper cup to squeeze through the throat, without allowing the consecutive, second paper cup to pass through the throat at the same time. In a preferred embodiment, the throat is formed by suturing the side edges of the lower part of the sleeve.

The objects and construction of the paper cup container of this application will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of the paper cup container of this invention in a flattened state.

Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective view of the paper cup container of Fig. 1 in an expanded state, with a paper cup at the throat of the container.

Figure 3 is an oblique perspective view of a paper cup to be packed in the paper cup container of this invention.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the paper cup container of Fig. 1, with a stack of paper cups contained therein.

Figure 5 is a schematic, perspective view of the paper cup container of Fig. 1, with a stack of paper cups packed therein, and with the upper end and the lower end of the container sealed.

As shown in Fig. 1, a first embodiment of the paper cup container of this invention is composed of an elongated sleeve 1 made of a flexible, stretchable sheet material such as thin plastic sheet, which may be a thin sheet of polyethylene, polypropylene, or a mixture thereof. Sleeve 1 has an upper opening 11 and a symmetrical lower opening 12, and a uniform width W1 when flattened along the length of the flattened sleeve 1. At a suitable place near the lower end of sleeve 1 is provided a pair of seam lines, or sutures 14, extending from the side edges of the flattened sleeve 1 inwardly downwardly to form a slightly narrowed inner passage, or throat 13 having a width W2 smaller than W 1.

Sleeve 1 can be expanded into a cylindrical shape as shown in Fig. 2, to form a main cylindrical compartment 1 1A of diameter D1 which is equivalent to 2W1/7r, with throat 13 expanded to form a relatively narrow circular passage of diameter D2 which is equivalent to 2W2/it. For simplicity the narrow circular passage will also be referred to as "throat" throughout this description. The part below throat 13 will be referred to as "skirt" 15 which also has a cylindrical compartment 12A symmetrical with main cylindrical compartment 1 1 A.

Width W1 of flattened sleeve 1 is so determined that diameter D1(=2W1/7r) is slightly larger than the outside diameter DO of the upper flange 2A of a paper cup 2, as shown in Fig. 3, to be contained or packed in sleeve 1; and width W2 of throat 13 is so determined that diameter D2(=2W2/K) is slightly smaller than the outside diameter DO of upper flange 2A of paper cup 2. It should be understood that paper cup 2, although implying a cup made of paper, may be made of any material other than paper, such as plastic, which will render the cup disposal after use.

As shown in Fig. 2, when paper cup 2 is placed in expanded sleeve 1 through the upper opening of sleeve 1, paper cup 2 freely passes through main cylindrical compartment 1 1A of expanded sleeve 1 to throat 13, where upper flange 2A of paper cup 2 en gages with throat 13, and paper cup 2 is stopped at throat 13. In a preferred embodiment, the length of skirt 15 of sleeve 1 is so selected to be shorter than the height of paper cup 2, so as to allow the lower part of paper cup 2 to be exposed beyond the lower end of skirt 15, in order that paper cup 2 might easily be taken out by hand through the lower end of sleeve 1.

The paper cup container of this invention is adapted to contain a stack of paper cups 2 as shown in Fig. 4. The stack of paper cups 2 is placed in expanded sleeve 1 through upper end opening 11 of sleeve 1, with the lower most paper cup (hereinafter as first paper cup) 21 of the stack of paper cups 2 stopped at throat 13 having diameter D2 slightly smaller than the outside diameter DO of upper flange 21A of the paper cup 21, as described above. And the whole stack of paper cups 2 is contained within main cylindrical compartment 11A. To take out a paper cup from the stack of paper cups 2, first paper cup 21 is grasped by hand and pulled downwardly. Upper flange 21 A is then caused to squeeze through throat 13, causing the wall of throat 13, being subject to strain, to stretch in a peripheral direction so as to widen the passage of throat 13.As a result upper flange 21A is allowed to pass through throat 13, and first paper cup 21 can be taken out. As soon as upper flange 21A of first paper cup 21 has passed through throat 13, the wall of throat 13, being relieved from the strain, shrinks to its orignal state, to engage with upper flange 22A of second paper cup 22 behind first paper cup 21, so as to stop second paper cup 22 from moving through throat 13.

Therefore, paper cup 2 in the container can be taken out one at a time without the remaining paper cups being unpacked or exposed, so that the chance of contaminating paper cups before use is minimized.

When making the paper cup container according to the first embodiment as described above, sleeve 1, as shown in Fig. 5, may be provided with an extension 17 extending from the lower end of skirt 15. A scored line or perforation 14 is formed to define the length of skirt 15, and the lower end 128 of extension 17 is sealed. After a stack of paper cups 2 is placed in sleeve 1 through the upper end of sleeve 1, the upper end is sealed to complete the packing of the paper cups. A hole, or holes 18, may be provided near the sealed upper end of sleeve 1 so that the entire unit can be hung on an appropriate hanger.

To use the paper cups packed in the container as shown in Fig. 5, extension 17 is first ripped off along perforation 16: the paper cups can then be taken out from the container, one at a time, through the lower end of sleeve.

Claims

1. A paper cup container, comprising: an elongated sleeve made of a flexible and stretchable sheet material, the sleeve having a main body capable of containing therein a stack of paper cups and allowing them to pass therethrough freely, and a part provided with a passage capable of engaging with an upper flange of a last paper cup of the stack of paper cups contained within the body of said sleeve to hold the stack of paper cups, said passage being capable of expanding under strain when said last paper cup is pulled to squeeze through said passage to allow said last paper cup to pass through.

2. A paper cup container substantially as illustrated in the drawings.

2. A paper cup container, comprising: an elongated sleeve made of a flexible and stretchable, thin sheet material, the sleeve having a main body capable of containing therein a stack of paper cups and allowing them to pass therethrough freely, and a lower part provided with a relatively narrow passage capable of engaging with an upper flange of the lower-most paper cup of the stack of paper cups contained within the body of said sleeve to hold the stack of paper cups, said narrow passage being capable of expanding under strain when said lower-most paper cup is pulled to squeeze through said narrow passage to allow said lower-most paper cup to pass through.

3. A paper cup container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said narrow passage is formed by suturing the said edges of said sleeve.

4. A paper cup container substantially as illustrated in the drawings.

5. Any novel integer or step, or combination of integers or steps, hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings irrespective of whether the present claim is within the scope of, or relates to the same or a different invention from that of, the preceding claims.

CLAIMS Ammendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-5 above have been deleted.

New claims have been filed as follows:

1. A paper cup container, comprising: an elongated sleeve made of a flexible and stretchable, thin sheet material, the sleeve having a main body capable of containing therein a stack of paper cups and allowing them to pass therethrough freely, and a lower part provided with a relatively narrow passage capable of engaging with an upper flange of the lower-most paper cup of the stack of pa per cups contained within the body of said sleeve to hold the stack of paper cups, said narrow passage being formed by suturing side edges of said sleeve and being capable of expanding under strain when said lower-most paper cup is pulled to squeeze through said narrow passage to allow said lower-most paper cup to pass through.