US20020000446A1 - Cup-holder napkin - Google Patents

Cup-holder napkin Download PDF

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Publication number
US20020000446A1
US20020000446A1 US09/896,180 US89618001A US2002000446A1 US 20020000446 A1 US20020000446 A1 US 20020000446A1 US 89618001 A US89618001 A US 89618001A US 2002000446 A1 US2002000446 A1 US 2002000446A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cup
sleeve
holder
upstanding sidewall
inner portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US09/896,180
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Paul Taylor
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20020000446A1 publication Critical patent/US20020000446A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G23/00—Other table equipment
    • A47G23/02—Glass or bottle holders
    • A47G23/0208—Glass or bottle holders for drinking-glasses, plastic cups, or the like
    • A47G23/0216—Glass or bottle holders for drinking-glasses, plastic cups, or the like for one glass or cup
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G11/00—Table linen
    • A47G11/001—Table napkins

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cup and cup-holder for beverages, and in particular, to a cup-holder having an absorbent portion for cleaning up spillage.
  • the cup-holder described in the '473 Pat. is comprised of both an inner portion and an outer portion.
  • the outer portion is typically comprised of a surface that engages a surface on the cup for securing the cup-holder to the cup.
  • the inner portion is typically formed with a small air-gap between the inner portion and the surface of the cup to insulate the hand of the user from the heated beverage contained within the cup.
  • the cup-holder is typically made from a corrugated medium, a web of paperboard, or virgin kraft or similar easily recyclable cellulosic material.
  • the cup-holder may also be made from a wax-covered paper product, or polystyrene.
  • these products are designed to withstand temperature and moisture from the beverage which may degrade or interfere with the utility of the cup-holder.
  • These products generally provide poor liquid-absorptive qualities for the cup-holder due to the utility mentioned previously.
  • cup and cup-holder was intended for generally the purpose mentioned above.
  • the cup and cup-holder represent a major source of waste since they are generally discarded after use. Notwithstanding the associated waste of these products, the amount of waste created by these products are compounded by using disposable napkins for cleaning-up spillage. Therefore, a need exists for a cup and cup-holder that may be used in combination and which may be used to replace the traditional use of disposable napkins.
  • an absorbent cup-holder sleeve in combination with a beverage cup for containing heated beverages.
  • the cup-holder sleeve includes in one embodiment:
  • an inner portion having a heat insulating section to protect the hand of the user from heat conduction across the cup between the heated beverage and the hand of the user;
  • an outer portion having a liquid-absorbent portion for cleaning up spillage of liquid beverage contained therein.
  • a method for producing a liquid cup-holder sleeve includes:
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a cup-holder sleeve having an inner portion and an outer portion
  • FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of the cup engagement member for the inner portion
  • FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the cup engagement member for the inner portion
  • FIG. 4 is a first embodiment of the outer portion showing the fibrous liquid-absorbent material
  • FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of the outer portion showing the sponge-like liquid-absorbent material
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the cup-holder used in combination with a cup
  • FIG. 7 illustrates the cup-holder removed from the cup and used to clean-up spillage from a surface
  • FIG. 8 shows a cup-holder discarded within the cup
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a cup-holder with two free ends and
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a cup-holder with a slit on free end which is intended to be mated with a groove on the other free end to form the cup-holder.
  • a cup-holder 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an inner portion 5 and an outer portion 10 .
  • the inner portion 5 has an inner wall 6 having a plurality of cup engagement members 7 .
  • the cup engagement members 7 include nubbins 8 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the cup engagement members 7 include ribbed members 9 , as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the invention contemplates any shape, or any combination of cup engagement members 7 , as long as the cup 20 is located in a spaced relationship with the cup-holder 1 .
  • the spaced relationship between the cup 20 and cup-holder 1 is used to form an air-gap between the cup 20 and cup-holder 1 which limits the conduction of heat between the heated beverage and the hand of the user.
  • the cup-holder includes a cup engagement member 7 as mentioned previously, although this feature is not essential if the cup-holder 1 is made from a material which is sufficiently limiting in terms of heat conduction between the heated beverage and the hand of the user.
  • an outer portion 10 of the cup-holder 1 is shown.
  • the outer portion 10 is comprised of a liquid-absorbent material, such as recycled paper product of the variety commonly used as napkins.
  • the outer portion 10 is made from the same material as the napkin material mentioned previously, however, any liquid-absorbent material may be used.
  • the outer portion is made of a liquid-absorbent material
  • both the inner portion 5 and the outer portion 10 may be made from a liquid-absorbent material, or either the inner portion 5 or the outer portion 10 , or a portion of either or both inner and outer portions may be made from a liquid absorbent material, so long as at least a portion of the cup holder includes a liquid-absorbent material for providing a liquid absorbent surface.
  • FIG. 4 a first embodiment of the outer portion 10 is shown.
  • the outer portion 10 is comprised of a fibrous recycled paper product 12 such as the variety commonly used as napkins, although other materials may be used.
  • the outer portion 10 may be individually fixedly attached to the inner portion 5 to form the cup-holder portion.
  • the outer portion 10 and the inner portion 5 comprise an integral one-piece design.
  • FIG. 5 a second embodiment of the outer portion 10 is shown.
  • the outer portion 10 is comprised of a sponge-like liquid-absorbent material 13 .
  • the outer portion 10 may be individually fixedly attached to the inner portion 5 to form the cup-holder portion.
  • the outer portion 10 and the inner portion 5 comprise an integral one-piece design.
  • the sponge-like material is preferably sufficiently constructed so as to resist tearing or splaying when inserted over the cup, while still maintaining sufficient insulating qualities.
  • the inner and outer portions of the cup holder may be separately or integrally constructed. What is important is that a rigid one-piece cup-holder is achieved that may be securely fastened to the cup 20 for insulating the cup. As shown in FIG. 7, the cup-holder 1 may be torn away from the cup prior to disposal of the cup and used to clean spillage or condensate 22 from the surface 23 such as a tabletop, for example. Alternatively, the cup-holder 1 may be left on the cup 20 and used as a liquid-absorbent substrate for wiping-up liquid condensate 22 , e.g., from the hand 25 of a user, as shown in FIG. 6. Having reference to FIG. 8, the cup-holder 1 may then be disposed of inside the cup 1 , thereby eliminating the need for separate individual napkins.
  • the aforementioned cup 20 and cup-holder 1 is intended primarily for use in conjunction with heated beverages, the present invention is useful with unheated beverages.
  • the inner portion 5 and the outer portion 10 , or the inner portion 5 or outer portion 10 need not be comprised of a heat insulative material.
  • both the inner portion 5 and outer portion 10 are comprised of the same material, however, the inner portion 5 and outer portion 10 may be comprised of different materials.
  • a process for producing a liquid absorbent cup-holder for a cup and cup-holder in combination.
  • the process of producing the cup-holder includes:
  • forming a sleeve involves forming a strip from a liquid absorbent material.
  • the strip 30 is rectangular to encompass the distance around the entire circumference of the cup.
  • the free ends 35 and 36 of the rectangular strip 30 are fastened together, using an adhesive substance as one example. Any adhesive that secures the free ends of the strip 30 together may be used.
  • the adhesive used should not degrade or interfere with the absorptive qualities of the cup-holder nor degrade the cup itself.
  • the adhesive used to secure the cup-holder together is biodegradable with the environment.
  • forming a sleeve includes producing a rectangular strip 30 which includes a slit 31 on one free end 35 that is engaged by a groove 32 on the other free end 36 .
  • the groove 32 engages into the slit 31 for holding the sleeve together.
  • Attaching the cup-holder to the cup includes sliding the sleeve over the upstanding sidewall of the cup.
  • attaching the cup-holder to the cup 20 includes inserting the groove 31 into the slit 32 directly on the cup 20 , in accordance with the embodiments of the invention.

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  • Table Equipment (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
US09/896,180 2000-06-29 2001-06-28 Cup-holder napkin Abandoned US20020000446A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2,309,621 2000-06-29
CA002309621A CA2309621A1 (fr) 2000-06-29 2000-06-29 Porte-gobelet absorbant

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20020000446A1 true US20020000446A1 (en) 2002-01-03

Family

ID=4166264

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/896,180 Abandoned US20020000446A1 (en) 2000-06-29 2001-06-28 Cup-holder napkin

Country Status (2)

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US (1) US20020000446A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2309621A1 (fr)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070184734A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-09 Ramsay Hamish A Moisture absorbing wrap
US20080164270A1 (en) * 2007-01-08 2008-07-10 Puerini Russell A Container holder
US7614523B1 (en) 2007-04-13 2009-11-10 Fixler Don S Beverage cup drip collar
US20100001012A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2010-01-07 Charles Wilson Container Wrap
US20100187296A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2010-07-29 International Paper Company Double wall container with internal spacer
US20130001289A1 (en) * 2011-06-28 2013-01-03 International Paper Company Paperboard cup with moisture absorbing protection
US20130043263A1 (en) * 2011-08-18 2013-02-21 Ting-Yu YANG Cup Sleeve
WO2019009812A1 (fr) * 2017-07-06 2019-01-10 Yumi Homma Manchon pour un porte-gobelet et procédés de fabrication du manchon
US20190352079A1 (en) * 2016-09-12 2019-11-21 Nikolaos Karatarakis Ring made of expanded polystyrene for a cup
US11401100B2 (en) 2018-04-13 2022-08-02 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Container with scalable features
US20220289463A1 (en) * 2021-03-12 2022-09-15 Jared DOMINGOS Sleeve for cups and other containers
US11945641B2 (en) 2018-04-13 2024-04-02 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Container with insulating features

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070184734A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-09 Ramsay Hamish A Moisture absorbing wrap
WO2007138481A2 (fr) * 2006-02-06 2007-12-06 Hamish Andrew Ramsay Dessous de bouteille absorbant l'humidité
WO2007138481A3 (fr) * 2006-02-06 2008-06-19 Hamish Andrew Ramsay Dessous de bouteille absorbant l'humidité
US20100001012A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2010-01-07 Charles Wilson Container Wrap
US20100187296A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2010-07-29 International Paper Company Double wall container with internal spacer
US20080164270A1 (en) * 2007-01-08 2008-07-10 Puerini Russell A Container holder
US7614523B1 (en) 2007-04-13 2009-11-10 Fixler Don S Beverage cup drip collar
US20130001289A1 (en) * 2011-06-28 2013-01-03 International Paper Company Paperboard cup with moisture absorbing protection
US20130043263A1 (en) * 2011-08-18 2013-02-21 Ting-Yu YANG Cup Sleeve
US20190352079A1 (en) * 2016-09-12 2019-11-21 Nikolaos Karatarakis Ring made of expanded polystyrene for a cup
WO2019009812A1 (fr) * 2017-07-06 2019-01-10 Yumi Homma Manchon pour un porte-gobelet et procédés de fabrication du manchon
US11401100B2 (en) 2018-04-13 2022-08-02 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Container with scalable features
US11738932B2 (en) 2018-04-13 2023-08-29 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Container with insulating features
US11945641B2 (en) 2018-04-13 2024-04-02 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Container with insulating features
US20220289463A1 (en) * 2021-03-12 2022-09-15 Jared DOMINGOS Sleeve for cups and other containers
US11814236B2 (en) * 2021-03-12 2023-11-14 Jared DOMINGOS Sleeve for cups and other containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2309621A1 (fr) 2001-12-29

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Legal Events

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STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION