US3739975A

US3739975A - Novelty party cup

Info

Publication number: US3739975A
Application number: US00217465A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Davidow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-13
Filing date: 1972-01-13
Publication date: 1973-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-19

Abstract

The invention is typically embodied in a disposable paper cup. The paper cup is provided with flaps that fold outwardly from the sides of the cup. The insides of the flaps (that is, the sides hidden from view before folded outwardly) are provided with suitable designs of fanciful facial features. The flaps cooperate with fanciful facial features printed on the bottom of the cup to constitute a suitable mask or caricature that can be held to the user''s face. Since the caricature components of the mask are normally concealed, the secondary mask use of the cup has a surprise element. Since the flaps are normally in place along the sides of the cup, the cups are nestable notwithstanding the secondary function.

Description

Davidow June 19, 1973 NOVELTY PARTY CUP [76] Inventor: Jodell Davidow, 7116 Hillside I Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90046 22 Filed: Jan. 13,1972

21 Appl. No.: 217,465

[52] U.S. Cl. 229/8, 206/DIG. 35, 222/78,

229/1.5 B, D9/220, D9/217, D44/9 B, 46/11 [51] Int. Cl 865d 3/00 [58] Field of Search 229/8, 1.5 B;

206/DIG. 35; D9/198, 199, 195, 217, 220; 46/11; D34/l56; 2/199, 185 R, 173,206 S, 200; 222/78; 161/12, 7; 215/100 R Schellenberg 229/8 X Wommelsdorf 229/1.5 B

Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Att0rneyFlam and Flam ABSTRACT The invention is typically embodied in a disposable paper cup. The paper cup is provided with flaps that fold outwardly from the sides of the cup. The insides of the flaps (that is, the sides hidden from view before folded outwardly) are provided with suitable designs of fanciful facial features. The flaps cooperate with fanci ful facial features printed on the bottom of the cup to constitute a suitable mask or caricature that can be held to the users face. Since the caricature components of the mask are normally concealed, the secondary mask use of the cup has a surprise element. Since the flaps are normally in place along the sides of the cup, the cups are nestable notwithstanding the secondary function.

20 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures NOVELTY PARTY CUP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates to party favors and particularly to paper or plastic cups designed to serve an auxiliary game or amusement function.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Paper goods designed to serve a secondary amusement or novelty purpose are known. For example, U.S. Letters Pat. No. 2,000,242 to Manning discloses paper bags and containers that serve secondary functions as masks. U.S. Letters Pat. No. 2,294,539 to Chaffin discloses a liquid container that has a secondary function as a megaphone. It is notoriously common to provide party favors decorated in the form suitable to the occa sion; for example, a Thanksgiving nut cup may have additional components to simulate the head and the tail of a turkey. It is also notoriously common to print paper cups in various characteristic holiday motifs.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a party cup, such as a nut cup or drinking cup, that has a normally concealed game or amusement feature; accordingly, when the contents of the cup are consumed or disposed of, the cups can be used as masks or caricatures for purposes of pre-planned or spontaneous games or for general hilarity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the foregoing object, I provide a paper cup provided with one or more flaps that normally fall flat against the sides of the cup and I normally provide a decorative component on the bottom of the cup. Only when folded outwardly away from the sides of the cup do the flaps form part of a mask or caricature that can be held to the user's face. When so held, the body of the cup serves to simulate a muzzle or nose of an animal or person. The flaps may function to simulate eyes, ears, mouths, lips, chins, or other facial components suitable to complete the mask or caricature.

The flaps can be formed in a number of ways: In one form of the invention, the flaps are formed as die cut components in a second separate ply surrounding the inner working ply of the cup. In another form of the invention, the second ply is formed as part of a unitary strip twice convoluted. In still another form of the invention, the flaps are appended to a ring surrounding and attached to the top of the cup. In still another form of the invention, the flaps are individually secured to the sides of the cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings, unless described as diagrammatic or unless otherwise indicated, are to scale.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a paper drinking'cup incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the cup shown in FIG. 1

l but with the flaps folded outwardly.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the cup shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified form of the present invention in which the second surrounding cup ply, on which the flaps are formed, is an extension of the inner working ply.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view illustrating a second modified form of the present invention in which the flaps are attached to a ring encircling the top of the cup.

FIG. 6 is a third modified form of the present invention in which the tabs are formed by individual components adhering to the sides of the cup.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are further examples showing how various designs may be incorporated in the cup in such manner that they are normally concealed or semiconcealed within the framework of an exterior design until the tabs are folded outwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Structural and operational characteristics attributed to forms of the invention first described shall also be attributed to forms later described, unless such characteristics are obviously inapplicable or unless specific exception is made.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a cup 10 that, in this instance, is of nestable frusto-conical form. The cup 10 is made of paper, or plastic, or other suitable material. The cup presents a substantially conventional appearance when it is placed upright upon a table. In the present form, the cup sides are plainly decorated and, except for die cut edges 12 on the sides of the cup, has an entirely conventional appearance. In normal use, the cup 10 is filled and/or refilled in a conventional manner. The cup may be used to hold items other than drinks, as for example, nuts or items other than food or drinks. The normal use contemplated, however, is that one cup be provided for each person at a party table.

When the first primary use of the cup has been completed and its contents emptied, one or more flaps 14 may be folded upwardly and outwardly from the side of the cup. The base of the flaps may be scored to facilitate bending and to define the axis or axes of folding. The inside or normally concealed side of the flaps 14 are printed in order to form one face element of a caricature. In the present instance, the flap 14 is shaped and printed to comprise simulated eyeglass-rimmed eyes. The underside of the base of the cup is printed to form another element of the caricature, in this instance, a canine mouth and nose. Accordingly, a playful mask can be held in position with the body of the cup generally aligned with the wearers mouth and nose to mask the users corresponding features.

A set of cups each presenting a different caricature can be packaged together for distribution at a party table together with complementary party material such as script outlines or suggestions for group participation.

The cup 10 comprises three structural elements: an inner frusto-conical ply 16 (FIG. 3), and an outer frusto-conical ply 18, and finally, a generally cylindrical cup base 20. The inner ply 16 at the bottom edge is wrapped around the periphery of the cup base in a conventional manner; its top is rolled over to form a suitable rim 22. The outer ply simply overlaps the inner ply and is secured by adhering its ends together. The outer ply l8 fits just beneath the rim 22 and in this instance extends all the way to the bottom of the cup. The inner ply 16 together with the cup base 20 serve to provide liquid container. Since the inner ply is reinforced by the outer ply, the thickness of the inner ply may be reduced.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 4, the cup is made in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 13 except that the inner and outer plies are formed as adjoining segments of a unitary strip of material 30. The strip 30 is twice convoluted so that the flaps do not impair the liquid containing functions.

If the base or proximal end of the flap falls along a curve, as it will in the forms shown in FIGS. 1-3 and in FIG. 4, then the natural curvature of the flap will create a bending moment of inertia whereby the flap tends to resist outward folding. This assists in keeping the flap in place during normal or primary use of the cup. To bend the flap outwardly, a slight flexure of the sidewalls of the cup may be required. By judicious location of score lines or fold axes, the bendable characteristics of the flaps can be largely predetermined.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the flap 14 is attached to a supporting ring 40. The ring is attached to the cup just beneath the rim 42. The ends of the ring 40 may be joined by having their ends overlapped and adhered as at 44. In this instance, the outer ply supporting the flaps have a minimum axial length; in each of the forms previously described, the outer ply has a maximum axial length.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 6, flaps 50, 52 and 54 each have base tab components 56, 58 and 60 that are directly attached to the sides of the cup.

FIG. 7 illustrates a design that may be incorporated in the cup made in accordance with any one of the four forms of the invention. In the present instance, however, the giraffe-like figure is formed by the structure of FIG. 4. FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate fanciful caricature comprising individual flap elements and made in accordance with the disclosure of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 illustrates a cup that carries an exterior design in which eye and nostril portions of an aligator are semi-concealed. Other designs can be worked into the cup periphery to subtly be worked into the mask design. Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, the applicant:

I claim:

1. In a novelty party cup or the like:

a. a base adapted to rest upon a table or the like;

b. sidewalls attached to or extended upwardly from said base to form with said base, a container for liquids or non-liquids;

c. one or more flaps attached to the said sidewalls and oriented normally to fall in face-to-face contact with said sidewalls, said flaps being foldable, as by digital manipulation, to an outward position to project laterally from said sidewalls;

d. said flaps having inner surfaces normally concealed when said flaps lie in face-to-face contact with said sidewalls;

c. said flaps having a configuration to simulate, as in caricature, certain facial features with the body of the cup forming a muzzle, nose or other feature of the caricatured animal or person.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the said inner surfaces of said flaps are printed to form an element of caricature.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the bottom of said base is printed to form an element of caricature.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the bottom of said base and the inner surfaces of said flaps are printed to form companion elements of caricature.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply of said sidewalls of said cup.

6. Thecombination as set forth in claim 1 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply of said sidewalls of said cup, said outer ply being a unitary extension of the inner ply and extended around the inner ply.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply of said sidewalls of said cup, said outer ply reinforcing said inner ply.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said sidewalls are frusto-conically or otherwise tapered to provide nestable characteristics to said cup.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said flaps each have tabs attached to the said sidewalls of said cup.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said sidewalls of said cup are curved and said flaps are correspondingly curved whereby the imparted curvature provides an increased bending moment of inertia for imposing a bias tending to keep said flaps against said sidewalls of said cup.

11. In a novelty party cup or the like: I

a. a base adapted to rest upon a table or the like;

e. the said inner surfaces of said flaps being printed to simulate, as in caricature, certain facial features with the cup forming a muzzle, nose or other feature of the caricatured animal or person.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said flaps have a configuration to form an element of caricature.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 1 1 in which the bottom of said base is printed to form an element of caricature.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which the bottom of said base is printed and said flaps have a configuration to form an element of caricature.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply of said sidewalls of said cup.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply of said sidewalls of said cup, said outer ply being a unitary extension of the inner ply and extended around the inner ply.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply 20. The combination as set forth in claim 1 l in which said sidewalls of said cup are curved and said flaps are correspondingly curved whereby the imparted curvature provides an increased bending moment of inertia for imposing a bias tending to keep said flaps against said sidewalls of said cup.

Claims

1. In a novelty party cup or the like: a. a base adapted to rest upon a table or the like; b. sidewalls attached to or extended upwardly from said base to form with said base, a container for liquids or non-liquids; c. one or more flaps attached to the said sidewalls and oriented normally to fall in face-to-face contact with said sidewalls, said flaps being foldable, as by digital manipulation, to an outward position to project laterally from said sidewalls; d. said flaps having inner surfaces normally concealed when said flaps lie in face-to-face contact with said sidewalls; e. said flaps having a configuration to simulate, as in caricature, certain facial features with the body of the cup forming a muzzle, nose or other feature of the caricatured animal or person.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply of said sidewalls of said cup, said outer ply being a unitary extenSion of the inner ply and extended around the inner ply.

11. In a novelty party cup or the like: a. a base adapted to rest upon a table or the like; b. sidewalls attached to or extended upwardly from said base to form with said base, a container for liquids or non-liquids; c. one or more flaps attached to the said sidewalls and oriented normally to fall in face-to-face contact with said sidewalls, said flaps being foldable, as by digital manipulation, to an outward position to project laterally from said sidewalls; d. said flaps having inner surfaces normally concealed when said flaps lie in face-to-face contact with said sidewalls; e. the said inner surfaces of said flaps being printed to simulate, as in caricature, certain facial features with the cup forming a muzzle, nose or other feature of the caricatured animal or person.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which the bottom of said base is printed to form an element of caricature.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said flaps are formed by die cut portions in an outer ply of said sidewalls of said cup, said outer ply reinforcing said inner ply.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said sidewalls are frusto-conically or otherwise tapered to provide nestable characteristics to said cup.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said flaps each have tabs attached to the said sidewalls of said cup.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said sidewalls of said cup are curved and said flaps are correspondingly curved whereby the imparted curvature provides an increased bending moment of inertia for imposing a bias tending to keep said flaps against said sidewalls of said cup.