US20050230467A1

US20050230467A1 - Combination cup sleeve and plug assembly

Info

Publication number: US20050230467A1
Application number: US11/090,584
Authority: US
Inventors: Dan Prescott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-15
Filing date: 2005-03-25
Publication date: 2005-10-20
Also published as: US20050230466A1; WO2005102121A3; WO2005102121A2

Abstract

A Combination Cup Sleeve and Plug Assembly is disclosed. Also disclosed is a combination that includes an insulating sleeve for disposable beverage containers, as well as a detachable plug for the dispensing aperture formed in the lid of the container and a lanyard interconnecting the two. The sleeve is provided in a variety of durable, aesthetically pleasing, non-disposable forms. The plug is configured to be insertible into the dispensing aperture of the cup and should be made either from semi-precious or low cost materials, depending upon the target market. The plug further has a portion for displaying trademarks and/or identifying indicia thereon. The sleeve may further include a holder for retaining the plug therein when the plug is not in use for plugging the dispensing aperture. The lanyard is a detachable member made from cord, chain or other material that interconnects the plug and the sleeve. In an alternate embodiment, the plug is detachably clipped to the insulating sleeve. Also, the insulating sleeve is formed from a pair of juxtaposed sheets of material, an inner conducted thermal-energy suppressive member and an outer radiated thermal-energy reflective (i.e. suppressive) member. The inner surface of the outer member is likely to be made from a reflective material, while the outer surface of the outer member is likely to be a vinyl or other material to permit the imprinting of indicia thereon, and so that the indicia will be permanently and attractively affixed thereto.

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/824,885, filed Apr. 15, 2004, now pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to accessories for beverage containers and, more specifically, to a Combination Cup Sleeve and Plug Assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
Boutique coffee shops (and large chain coffee shops) have grown exponentially in popularity. As with many growing industries, the growth of the coffee shop industry has resulted in the introduction of many new products related to the core product (i.e. coffee). One particularly popular product that has experienced significant evolutionary steps as a result of the popularity of the coffee shop industry is that of the disposable cup. FIG. 1 depicts a design for a disposable cup that is now used widely in this industry.
A common design for the disposable beverage container 10 used by coffee shops today has a container 10 made from cardboard or other paper-related product. For safety to prevent spilling, there is a disposable lid 12 that snaps onto a lip formed at the upper rim of the container 10. The lid 12 is defined by an upper lid rim 14 and a lower lid rim 16; the lower rim 16 has a groove formed in it that cooperates with the lip formed in the rim of the container 10. A dispensing aperture 18 is disposed on the top of the upper lid rim 14. This aperture 18 is typically rectangular in shape with rounded corners (at least for one or two particularly large chain coffee shop company's product). Because the coffee products provided to the consumer in these containers 10 is typically very hot, even to the touch, a very useful accessory was developed—the insulating sleeve 20.
While these sleeves 20 can come in a variety of different materials and styles, one predominant style is depicted in FIG. 1. This insulating sleeve 20 is formed from a rectangular strip of corrugated cardboard. Near each end 24A and 24B of the strip of cardboard a partial cut 22A and 22B has been made in the strip—one cut 22A leading from the bottom edge of the strip and reaching just past the centerline of the strip, and one cut 22B leading from the top edge of the strip and reaching just past the centerline of the strip. To form the strip into a sleeve 20, the sales person simply slides the two partial cuts 22 into one another such that they interlock to form a closed sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 is then slipped over the bottom of the beverage container 10 so that is protects the customer's hand from being burned by the hot liquid in the cup.
These disposable insulating sleeves 20 are very effective at their functional purpose, but they are lacking in at least two areas—aesthetic appeal and spill prevention. While the user's hand is well protected against burns from the hot cup 10, there is nothing to prevent the user from spilling coffee out of the aperture 18 (which typically does not have a cover). What is needed, then is a device or assembly that not only protects the user's hand against burns from heat transfer through the wall of the container 10, but also provides a way to prevent spilling out through the aperture 18. It would also be very beneficial if this device or assembly was designed and made from materials that made it more aesthetically pleasing than the prior sleeves 20. Also, most sleeves are designed from low-cost materials (either paper or cardboard) to meet a disposability objective. It would be beneficial if there were a sleeve that incorporated a higher quality material in order to improve aesthetics, provide reusability, as well as potentially providing superior thermal insulating qualities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and assemblies, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Combination Cup Sleeve and Plug Assembly. The combination should include an insulating sleeve for disposable beverage containers, as well as a detachable plug for the dispensing aperture formed in the lid of the container and a lanyard interconnecting the two. The sleeve should be provided in a variety of durable, aesthetically pleasing, non-disposable forms. The plug should be configured to be insertible into the dispensing aperture of the cup and should be made either from semi-precious or low cost materials. The plug should further have a surface for displaying trademarks and/or identifying indicia thereon. The sleeve should further include a holder for the plug when the plug is not in use for plugging the dispensing aperture. The lanyard should be a detachable member (from the plug) made from cord, chain or other material that will interconnect the plug and the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional insulating sleeve and disposable cup assembly;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the sleeve and plug assembly of the present invention;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are top and bottom views, respectively, with the sleeve of the assembly of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4A-4D are side, back, top and bottom views of the plug of the assembly of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIGS. 2-4 attached to a conventional disposable cup;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIGS. 2-5 having the plug stowed in the pocket;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the sleeve and plug assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is an exploded front view of the insulating sleeve of the assembly of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the resilient fastener of the assembly of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the plug pocket assembly of the assembly of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Combination Cup Sleeve and Plug Assembly.
The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the sleeve and plug assembly 30 of the present invention. The assembly 30 is composed of three major components: The insulating sleeve 32, the plug 34, and the lanyard 36 detachably interconnecting the two. The sleeve 32 forms a cup chamber 40 to accept the conventional beverage container (see FIG. 1) therein. One very unique aspect of this sleeve 32 over the prior art, however, is the plug pocket 38 for holding the plug 34 therein when it is not being used to plug the dispensing aperture (see FIG. 1). If we now turn to FIGS. 3A and 3B, we can discuss these components in more detail.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are top and bottom views, respectively, with the sleeve 32 of the assembly of FIG. 2. The sleeve 32 is typically formed with an outer layer 46 and an inner layer 44 connected to one another, such as by the stitching shown in FIG. 2. There may also be an intermediate layer sandwiched between these inner and outer layers 44 and 46 for additional insulation. At least the outer layer 46 is preferably made from a durable, flexible, washable and aesthetically pleasing material. One favored material is burlap, used to simulate the look and feel of a bag of coffee beans. In other forms, the material could be velvet or fine leather, or other fine quality materials. The eyelet 48A is shown here as a small loop extending from one portion of the sleeve 32 where the lanyard (see FIG. 2) can be attached. The eyelet 48A may also be a loop or pair of holes formed in the sleeve 32, or from other conventional attachment devices.
Extending from the front side of the sleeve 32 is an additional storage sleeve or pocket, referred to herein as the plug pocket 38. The plug pocket 38 is generally made from a flap of the same material as the outer layer 46 attached to the outside of the outer layer 46 in such a way as to form a receptacle for the plug (see FIG. 2). In this version, the plug pocket has an upper opening 50 and a lower opening 54; the pocket 38 is designed to cooperate with the plug (see FIG. 2) so that the plug (see FIG. 2) can be slipped therein through the upper pocket opening 50. If we now turn to FIGS. 4A-4D, we can examine another element of this novel assembly.
FIGS. 4A-4D are side, back, top and bottom views of the plug 34 of the assembly of FIG. 2. The body 56 of the plug 34 is preferably made from a durable, possibly valuable material, such as silver or gold (or plated in these metals); of course plastic and other materials are also to be provided. The body 56 is formed having smooth chamfered edges 70 on all four vertical edges (vertical in FIGS. 4A and 4B), as well as all horizontal surfaces (i.e. where the vertical surfaces meet the head 58 and tip 60). The plug 34 is tapered in from the head 58 to the tip 60 so that it will seat into the dispensing aperture (see FIG. 1) until a seal is formed between the walls of the plug 34 and the edges of the aperture (see FIG. 1). As such, the front face 64 and back face 62 are both tapered in from top to bottom, and the first and second side faces 66A and 66B are also tapered in from top to bottom. In other versions, the plug 34 may be provided in different cross-sectional shapes (i.e. circular, square) to accommodate differently shaped dispensing apertures. Furthermore, the plug 34 may be partially or completely coated with rubberized or plastic material in order to provide a more liquid-tight seal between the dispensing aperture (see FIG. 1) and the plug 34.
In order to provide added aesthetic appeal, one or more indicia may be engraved or otherwise displayed or etched to the body 56 of the plug 34; in this embodiment, the indicia 68 is inscribed on the back face 62 (opposite the eyelet 48B). One exemplary indicia is that of the coffee shop company's logo or name.
The eyelet 48B is preferably formed as an integral part of the body 56 in order to insure the security of its attachment to the lanyard 36, however, this does not preclude possible manufacturing cost considerations dictating other approaches. The lanyard 36 is shown here as a jewelry-grade chain that interconnects the plug 34 with the sleeve (see FIG. 2). One or both ends of the lanyard 36 may be provided with a clasp, hook or other attachment means that permits the lanyard 36 to be detached from the plug 34 and/or sleeve (see FIG. 2). In other versions, the lanyard 36 may be made from wire, cord or other durable, yet flexible materials that are conventional for tethering two devices together. FIG. 5 shows how the whole assembly functions with the plug (see FIG. 2) inserted into the dispensing aperture (see FIG. 1).
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly 30 of FIGS. 2-4 attached to a conventional disposable cup 10. When the user wishes to plug the aperture 18, such as when the container 10 has been filled with hot liquid, he or she need simply to remove the plug 34 from its convenient storage location in the plug pocket 38, and then insert the tip into the aperture 18, allowing the plug 34 to drop down until a snug fit exists between the aperture 18 and the plug 34. As shown, the user's hand is thermally protected from the hot sides of the container 10 by the insulating qualities of the sleeve 32, as well as being protected from spillage of hot liquid through the aperture 18. Of course, the sleeve 32 also provides an improved grip for the user to more securely grasp the beverage container 10. FIG. 6 depicts the assembly 30 with the plug 34 being stored in the plug pocket 38.
Having completed the review of a first set of embodiments of the present invention, we shall now turn to a second preferred embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the sleeve and plug assembly 30A of the present invention. This embodiment has five main elements: the insulating sleeve 32A, the plug pocket assembly 118, the resilient fastener 104, the plug 34, and the lanyard 31.
The insulating sleeve 32A of this embodiment has two distinct members, the outer sheath member 102 and the inner sheath member 100. The two members 100 and 102 have individualized physical properties that cause them to function very well together as a “sandwich.” The outer sheath member 102 is configured to be durable and readily able to accept permanent indicia inscriptions, such as by screen printing or other conventional means, while its laminated layers provide additional desired thermal characteristics with respect to radiated thermal energy, which will be elaborated upon in subsequent paragraphs. The inner sheath member 100, is quite different from the outer sheath member in that it's material of construction provides the predominant thermal insulation properties; it will, therefore protect a user's hand from being burned, or scalded by hot liquid held in a cup within the sleeve 32A, while at the same time insulating the hot beverage in order to prolong the duration that the beverage remains at elevated temperatures.
As will be discussed more fully below, the sleeve 32A is made from flat sheet(s) of material that is then formed into a conical shape, with the opposing ends being held together by a resilient fastener 104. The resilient fastener 104 has a plurality of arms 106 extending from it that are configured to slip through slots formed in the sheets making up the insulating sleeve 32A. Once passing through the slots, the arms 106 attach to one another to retain the ends of the inner and outer sheath members 100 and 102 together.
The plug pocket assembly 118 is configured to removably clip onto the insulating sleeve 32A, such that the assembly 118 can be made separately (and potentially from a different material) than the sleeve 32A. The lanyard 36 attaches to the assembly 118 to interconnect the assembly 118 and the plug 34. A pocket 38A is provided by the assembly 118 for storage of the plug 34 as discussed previously within this disclosure. Now turning to FIG. 8, we can continue to examine this alternate embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an exploded front view of the insulating sleeve 32A of the assembly of FIG. 7. The inner sheath member 100 is formed from a material that, by its nature, is an effective insulator against conductive heat transfer. One desirable choice is polyester felt material, but other [pressed, woven, etc.] materials of similar properties are likely also to be suitable. The inner sheath member 100 is defined by curved upper and lower edges and substantially straight opposing ends. As should be apparent, the sheath member 100 will transform into a conical shape when the opposing ends are aligned next to one another in application.
Adjacent to the opposing ends, a plurality of slots 110 are cut through the material of the sheath member 100. As discussed above, the slots 110 are provided to allow the arms of the resilient fastener to pass through for assembly.
The outer sheath member 102 is shaped substantially the same as the inner sheath member 100, such that the outer perimeters and slots 110 align closely with one another when the two sheaths are juxtaposed. The outer sheath 102 is made from material that serves at least two functions: first, it provides a durable outer display layer 108 upon which labeling or other indicia can be imprinted; next, it has an inner radiant thermal-energy barrier layer 106 that inhibits radiant heat transfer. A preferred material choice to provide these features is to employ a vinyl-coated [outer surface] aluminized mylar [inner surface] fabric that has been laminated into a single sheet of material. If possible, in fact, it would be desirable to attach the outer sheath 102 and the inner sheath 100 into a single laminated sheet. The 2-sheath approach can be improved by providing sections of the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener material on the inner surface of the outer sheath member 102. These sections of the hook portion of hook-and-loop fastener will actually interlock with the felt material from which the inner sheath member 100 is made to prevent the two layers from easily coming apart or moving independently of one another. We will now turn to FIG. 9 to examine the structure of another element in this new design.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the resilient fastener 104 of the assembly of FIG. 7. The resilient fastener 104 is a unique device that provides a low-cost, attractive way to assemble the plug and sleeve assembly. The fastener 104 has a bridge section 112 configured to extend substantially from the upper curved edge of the sleeve to the lower curved edge of the sleeve. Along the length of the bridge section 112, arms (or fastener tabs) 106A-106F extend outwardly in spaced relation. The arms 106 are designed to fit through the slots provided along the height [vertical edge] of the ends of the sheaths.
The arms, e.g. 106C and 106F are aligned as pairs so that once arm 106C passes through its corresponding slots in the sheaths, and once arm 106F passes through its associated slots in the other end of the sheaths, the ends of the arms 106C and 106F can fold over one another (see FIG. 7). The back surface 114 and the front surface 116 of the resilient fastener (or at least the arms 106) are composed of, or covered with opposite (i.e. interlock compatible, which may be unisex) portions of hook-and-loop fastener material (e.g. the hook portion covers that back surface 114, and the loop portion covers the front surface 116), such that when the ends of arms 106C and 106F (for example) are overlapped, they will releasibly hold onto one another. In this fashion, the opposing ends of the sheaths will be held together to form a conically-shaped insulating sleeve as depicted in FIG. 7. Finally turning to FIG. 10, we can examine the final component involved in this alternate embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the plug pocket assembly 118 of the assembly of FIG. 7. Rather than being integrated with the sleeve (as described in FIGS. 2-6), the plug pocket 38A is associated with an assembly 118 that clips over the sleeve. The clip 120 is preferably made from very thin, yet fairly strong material that allows it to be clipped over the upper edge of the insulating sleeve (see FIG. 7) without having a negative effect on the aesthetics of the sleeve. The current material of choice for the assembly is plastic, however, it is expected that the assembly 118 could be made from a variety of other materials. Finally, an eyelet mount 122 extends from the assembly 118 to provide an attachment location for the lanyard (see FIG. 7)
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A sleeve and plug assembly, comprising:

a plug;

a plug pocket configured to accept said plug within a receptacle formed therein;

an insulating sleeve; and

a lanyard interconnecting said plug and said sleeve.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said sleeve forms a cup chamber defined at its ends by a top sleeve opening and a bottom sleeve opening.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said sleeve is defined by an outer sheath member and an inner sheath member, said outer and inner sheath members juxtaposed to one another.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said sleeve and said plug each further comprise attachment means for attaching said lanyard thereto.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said lanyard comprises a chain of links interconnected.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said sleeve is further defined by an inner sheath member is made from a material selected from a group of low thermal-conductivity or insulating materials.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said outer sheath member comprises an inner radiant-thermal-energy barrier layer and an outer display layer.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plug pocket assembly, said plug pocket assembly comprising said plug pocket and a sleeve-mounting clip extending therefrom.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said plug pocket defines an elongate, substantially cylindrical receptacle having a top opening that is configured to accept an end of said plug therein, and said clip has a thin elongate finger extending downwardly generally parallel to a wall of said cylindrical receptacle.

10. An accessory for beverage containers, said containers defining a cylindrical cup having a slightly tapered shape and a lip defined by a dispensing aperture, comprising:

a plug;

a plug pocket assembly defining a plug pocket, said pocket configured to accept said plug within a receptacle formed therein;

an insulating sleeve, said plug pocket assembly detachably attachable to said insulating sleeve; and

a lanyard interconnecting said plug and said sleeve.

11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein sleeve comprises a cup chamber having a top opening and a bottom opening, said cup chamber shaped to cooperate with said cup to fit thereover.

12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein said plug is shaped to cooperate with said dispensing aperture whereby said plug is accepted partially within said dispensing aperture.

13. The accessory of claim 12, wherein said dispensing aperture defines a generally rectangular shape having rounded corners, and said plug defines a cross section that cooperates with said aperture shape.

14. The accessory of claim 13, wherein said insulating sleeve is formed from a pair of juxtaposed sheath members, each said sheath member defined by opposing ends and a plurality of slots formed therethrough adjacent to said opposing ends, said accessory further comprising:

a resilient fastener for interconnecting said opposing sheath member ends.

15. The accessory of claim 14, wherein said resilient fastener comprises:

a bridge section;

at least one pair of opposing arms extending from opposing edges of said bridge section; and

wherein said fastener defines a front surface from which extend fabric hooks and said fastener further defines a rear surface from which extend fabric loops, said hooks and loops configured to releasibly attach to one another.

16. The accessory of claim 15, comprising at least two said pairs of arms in spaced relation cooperative with spacing of said slots in said opposing ends of said sheaths, whereby said arms are insertible through said slots.

17. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said display layer and said radiant-thermal-energy barrier layer are laminated into a single composite member.

18. The accessory of claim 14, wherein said resilient fastener comprises:

a bridge section;

wherein said fastener defines a front surface and a rear surface and unisex fastener means for fastening to itself dispersed on said front and rear surfaces.