US3669001A

US3669001A - Cup assembly

Info

Publication number: US3669001A
Application number: US30736A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald B Asen
Original assignee: Bev Maid Inc
Current assignee: Bev Maid Inc
Priority date: 1970-04-22
Filing date: 1970-04-22
Publication date: 1972-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-13

Abstract

Tapered cups of foam polymeric material containing a comestible food product are provided with a cover cooperating with the interior surface of the cup. The cover has a rounded peripheral flange force-fit with the interior surface of the cup and a curved peripheral tip forming a secondary seal with the cup interior surface.

Description

Unite iates atent Asen [ 1 June 13, 1972 CUP ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Donald B. Asen, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Bev Maid, Inc., Valley Forge, Pa.

[22] Filed: April 22, 1970 v 21 App1.No.: 30,736

[52] US. Cl ..99/78, 128/222, 206/47 B,

206/56 R [51] Int. Cl. ..A23l 1/00, 865d 83/06, B65d 79/00 [58] Field of Search ..99/78; 206/47 B, l R, 56 R; I 128/222 56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,039 4/1915 Weber ..99/78UX Primary Examiner-M0nis O. Wolk Assistant Examiner-Barry S. Richman Attorney-Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammer [5 7] ABSTRACT Tapered cups of foam polymeric material containing a comestible food product are provided with a cover cooperating with the interior surface of the cup. The cover has a rounded peripheral flange force-fit with the interior surface of the cup and a curved peripheral tip forming a secondary seal with the cup interior surface.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJun 13 I97? 7 3.669.001

INVENTOR 4 DONALD E. ASEN v ATTORNEVS.

CUP ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a cup assembly and more particularly to a tapered cup of foam polymer material adapted to contain therewithin a comestible food product such as coffee grounds, tea grounds, soup concentrate, pharmaceutical products such as powdered headache remedies, etc. The periphery of the cover is constructed in a novel manner so as to provide a double seal with the ID. of the foam cup and rigidify the cup, so as to materially reduce the tendency of the cup to deform when held by finger pressure. The rigidifying of the cup materially facilitates the ease of handling of the cup and reduces the tendency of spilling some of the contents of the cup. The periphery of the cover is rigidified by the nature of its constructionwhereby a circular base is provided with a downwardly extending flange connected to a horizontally radially outwardly extending flange. The periphery of the radially outwardly extending flange is provided with an outwardly and inwardly extending curved flange adapted to form a dent on the Interior surface of the foam polymeric cup. The upper end of the curved inwardly extending flange merges into a curved outwardly extending flange which in turn merges into a feathered outwardly extending tip. The tip and last-mentioned curved portion are flexed inwardly when the cover is inserted into-the cup and form a secondary seal above the location when the cup is dented by the first-mentioned upwardly inwardly extending curved flange.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel cup assembly comprising a tapered cup of foam polymeric material with a cover therewithin.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel cup assembly wherein a foam polymeric cup containing a comestible food product includes a rigidifying cover overlyingthe food product.

'It is another object of the present invention to provide a cup assembly whereby tapered cups of foam polymeric material are rigidified by a cover above a comestible food product in the cup.

i It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel cup assembly whereby a tapered-cup of foam polymeric material is rigidificd by a cover made from an inexpensive material and in a manner which is reliable.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the.

precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

F IG. 1 is a perspective view of the cover of the cup assembly of the present invention.

' FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 but on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of two cup assemblies in accordance with the present invention telescoped or stacked one within the other.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the portions circled in phantom in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 3 a pair of cup assemblies in accordance with the present invention designated as and 12. Cup assembly 10 includes a tapered wall 14 connected to a flat horizontal bottom wall 16 and made from a foam polymeric material such as closed cell polystyrene, closed cell polyurethane, etc.

Cup 12 is constructed in the same manner and includes a wall 18 connected to a bottom wall 20 and made from the same material. The taper .on the

walls

14 and 18 is approximately 2 but may be increased as desired. Any one of the above-mentioned comestible food products or other comestible food products is placed within the bottom of cup 10 and designated in FIG. 3 as 22. A similar comestible food product is placed in the bottom cup 12 and designated as 24. The quantity of the comestible food product will vary with the nature of the same.

' designated generally Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a cover as '26 which has been inserted into cups l0 and 12, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3. The cover 26 includes a circular base 28 having a downwardly radially outwardly tapering flange 30 which merges into a radially outwardly extending horizontal flange 32. The outer periphery of flange 32 merges into an upwardly and inwardly extending curved flange 34. At an elevation slightly below the elevation of base 28, the upper end of curved flange 34 merges into an outwardly extending rim 36 having a reverse bend feathered tip 38. The diameter of rim 36 and tip 38 is greater than the diameter across the curved flange 34.

A handle 40 is integral with the cover 26 and extends horizontally from a peripheral portion of the tip 38 generaly parallel to the plane of base 28. The handle 40 may be manipulated so as to occupy the phantom position shown in FIG. 1 during insertion of the cover 26 into the cups l0 and 12. The illustrated construction of cover 26 rigidities the periphery of the cover and lends itself to mass production by vacuum forming techniques.

The cup assembly of the present invention is utilized as follows:

The comestible food product is inserted into the tapered cup of foam polymeric material. Thereafter, the cover 26 is inserted into the cup and pressed downwardly until the curved flange 34 attains a force-fit with the Interior surface of the cup and actually forms a dent on the Interior surface of the cup as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The insertion of the cover 26 into the cup will cause the handle 40 to assume a position along the ID. of the cup as attained between the cover and cup of the present invention is sufficiently tight so that the

comestible food products

22 and 24 may be liquid in nature.

The cover 26 may be made from a wide variety of polymeric materials including polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, styrene, etc. I prefer to make the cover 26 from polystyrene having a thickness between 0.010 and 0.015 inches thick.

It is to be noted that the rim 36 and tip 38 flex inwardly when the cover 26 isinserted into the cups. Notwithstanding the material and thicknesses involved, the rim 36 and tip 38 flex outwardly into contact with the Interior surface of the cup. The flange 34 is preferably curved as illustrated so as to create a dent which is greater thanpoint contact.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A plastic cup assembly for comestibles comprising a cup, said cup being comprised of foam polymeric material and the interior surface of said cup being tapered, and a cover for enclosing a portion of said cup, said cover including a circular base, a downwardly and outwardly extending first flange supported on the periphery of said base, said first flange supporting a horizontally extending second flange, a curved vertically disposed third flange merging into said second flange, said place of merger being rounded, a rim, said rim being supported by said third flange and extending upwardly and radially outwardly, and the upper end of said rim defines a curved tip, said curved tip being at an elevation above the elevation of said circular base, said curved tip and said outwardly extending flange being operative to closely engage said interior surface, and a handle connected to said cover.

2. A plastic cup assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a comestible food product overlying the bottom of said cup, said cover overlying the comestible food product.

3. A plastic cup assembly in accordance with claim 1 including an indentation on the interior surface of said cup, and said rounded merger of said second and third flanges extends into said indentation.

' at a: at a: 1

Claims

2. A plastic cup assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a comestible food product overlying the bottom of said cup, said cover overlying the comestible food product.
3. A plastic cup assembly in accordance with claim 1 including an indentation on the interior surface of said cup, and said rounded merger of said second and third flanges extends into said indentation.