Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/36—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections
  • B65D5/3607—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank
  • B65D5/3635—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body
  • B65D5/3678—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides and the central panel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/36—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections
  • B65D5/3607—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank
  • B65D5/3635—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body
  • B65D5/3642—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body the secured corners presenting diagonal, bissecting or similar folding lines, the central panel presenting no folding line
  • B65D5/3657—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body the secured corners presenting diagonal, bissecting or similar folding lines, the central panel presenting no folding line the adjacent sides being interconnected by gusset folds
  • B65D5/3664—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections formed by folding or erecting a single blank by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body the secured corners presenting diagonal, bissecting or similar folding lines, the central panel presenting no folding line the adjacent sides being interconnected by gusset folds and at least one side being extended and doubled-over to enclose the adjacent gusset flaps

Definitions

• the invention concerns a container or drinking cup, the side sections of which form a cylinder, formed in one piece with a square or rectangular bottom which in addition serves as a base for the cup, with which common title the structures mentioned heretofore shall be referred to hereinafter, inasmuch as a cup, the cylinder of which consists of four side sections, may be formed with a rectangular folding bottom, as is generally known and for example described in U.S. Patent Specification No.
• the known cups of the type with the bottom specified above have four side sections connected to one another at right-angled corners, and the top contour of the cup forms a square opening unsuitable for use in drinking cups, which are usually shaped with circular or polygonal, ring-shaped openings, which both stabilize the shape of the cylinder and additionally form gutter-shaped or spout-shaped structures which collect the liquid in a controlled flow over the rim of the cup when the opening of the cup is tipped from a horizontal to an inclined position.
• Cups with four side sections as described above are therefore of another type than cups as specified in accordance with this invention, and such cups are often also designed with a closure at the top or with a lid which stabilizes the cylin ⁇ der of the cup, so that the cup appears rigid and stable because the position of the sides relative to one another is fixed by the closure above.
• Cups of this type, with four side sections are only mentioned here because such cups are de ⁇ signed with a folding bottom of a type which is also used for the invention specified here, of which the other modes of functioning are new, while the mode of functioning of the known folding bottom is used in a new way in this invention, for which reason the state of the art is represented by disposable drinking cups in a permanently open form.
• the cups generally known are mainly manufactured in flexible materials such as thermoplastics or carton, for which reason various bends in the material are incorporated resulting in a certain rigidity in the sides, bottom and opening, intended to ensure that the contents of the cup do not unintentionally flow over the upper edges of the cup if the latter is subjected to external pressure which might otherwise deform it, whereby the contents would be pressed out over the top edges of the cup.
• the known cups are typically furnished with a circular opening above, reinforced with a folded bead all the way round, which provides good protection against the above-mentioned pressure.
• Such cups which are intended to contain liquid, are furnished with a stabilizing closure above.
• No cups are thus known with a stable opening above, consisting of curved edges, and which are further designed with a folding bottom of -the above-mentioned type.
• Drinking cups with a permanently open form further pose partic ⁇ ular problems in use of an ergono ic, hygienic and aesthetic nature. These problems and the way of remedying them will be further described and related to the cup as specified in accordance with the invention.
• the cup as specified in accordance with the invention is opened or collapsed into a flat form under the influence of a distinc- tive spring-like effect which keeps the cup fixed in an open, rigid position during use and also keeps it approximately flat and collapsed in a closed position when it is not filled with contents.
• a distinc- tive spring-like effect which keeps the cup fixed in an open, rigid position during use and also keeps it approximately flat and collapsed in a closed position when it is not filled with contents.
• the weight of the contents of the cup will furthermore exert pressure on the inside of the bottom and sides and will thus help to render the open form of the cup even more stable and strong than the open empty cup.
• the combination of the known technique of the folding bottom with a cup with only two side sections thus creates a new effect, inasmuch as the opposing tensions of the bottom and sides act upon each other such that the open, unfolded cup has approxi ⁇ mately the same stability and tension features as a vacuum- moulded disposable cup in plastic with a permanently open form.
• the cup as specified in accordance with the invention is folded such that the two insides of the cup bear upon each other, this form presents only a minimum of storage and trans ⁇ port problems compared with cups with a permanently open form. Furthermore, the transport of individual cups which are stored together with other items, for example in suitcases and bas ⁇ kets, will not cause damage to the cups, as is the case with disposable drinking cups manufactured in plastic. Such cups can easily be torn or broken by external pressure on the thin cylinder section of the cup.
• the folded position of the open cup further means that dust and bacteria will not gather inside the cup before use. This can be the case with the cups generally known, if they are not stored in a closed vending machine.
• the cup as specified in accordance with the invention can therefore minimize the spread of infec ⁇ tion in hospitals and in other places where there is a particu ⁇ larly high risk of the spread of infectious diseases and other infections.
• the seal may consist of a glued label stretching from one of the sides of the cup over the closed aperture of the cup to the other side, or the insides of the cup may be discontinuously glued or welded along the edge, or the cup may be furnished with a seal which consists of a detachable edge which is in one piece with the sides of the cup and which can be torn or cut off from it along a perforated or punched line, inasmuch as the actual detachable edge, consist ⁇ ing of parts of the two sides of the cup, is glued or welded together.
• the seal also means that the insides of the cup lie flat against each other and the cup takes up as little space as possible and ensures that no dust or other particles can penetrate into the cup.
• the cup is furnished with a stable bottom, and if the cup is to be used for drinking, that it is further furnished with a suitably large handle.
• the design of the cup as specified in accordance with the invention is not restricted to the use of the above-mentioned conical cylinder which is characteristic of ordinary disposable drinking cups, where in addition any handle must be so designed that the cups can be stored inside one another.
• the known cups are not as stable in use, inasmuch as the conical cylinder means that the circumference and area of the bottom are less than those of the top opening of the cup, which can thus be knocked over if there is only a little of the contents of the cup left, since the known disposable cups of this type do not have a particularly high specific gravity, unlike for example permanent drinking vessels of glass or porcelain, which can easily have a conical cylinder shape.
• the plastic cups generally known are either moulded or vacuum- moulded and the raw material cannot of course be given texts, patterns or pictures, for which reason the finished cups are printed with such motifs in a screen printing process.
• an offset printing technique which is cheaper, with a higher print quality, and if the cups are manufactured in carton or plastic foil in sheets or lengths, as mentioned in Claim 6, it will be possible to mass-produce offset-printed motifs of high quality at very competitive prices, which, in combination with the distinctive flat form of the cup, will provide a larger exposure surface for the printed motif than is possible with the known cups with circular or right-angled side sections, which must be turned round if one is to read or see a motif or text of a similar size.
• the cup as specified in accordance with the invention In its folded state, the cup as specified in accordance with the invention has a very large visual exposure surface which makes the cup particularly suitable for printed messages of a promotional nature, which in combination with the high printing quality and the low produc ⁇ tion price of the cup, makes the cup as specified in accordance with the invention a new and effective advertising medium.
• the new effects of the cup as specified in the application are achieved by using the already-known technique in the folding bottom with a different type of cylinder, characterized by the fact that the cup (1) is furnished with a total of two side sections (2, 3), the insides of which in the folded state of the cup bear upon each other, discontinuously glued or welded along the rim of the opening of the cup, or along certain flaps (15) which form one piece with the sides (2, 3) and which are intended for detachment along perforated lines (16), inasmuch as part of the said flaps is retained on the cup, folded out along the folding lines (17) such that the insides of the flaps are turned out and serve as a contact surface for the lips of the mouth while the user drinks from the cup, inasmuch as the side sections (2, 3) in the open state of the cup are held in tension in mirror-inverted and essentially congruent convex curves or rimmed sections which together form curves held in tension between the two folding lines (4, 5), the said curves or sections additionally
• the cup is opened by pressure and counterpressure on the edges 4 and 5 respectively or by pulling the sides 2 and 3 apart as in Drawing No. 1, inasmuch as the discontinuous seal at the middle of sides 2 and 3 is first broken, for example by a fingernail inserted between the collapsed sides 2 and 3 at the edge 5 and moved in towards the middle of the sides 2 and 3 where these are discontinuously glued or welded together.
• the cup then jumps into open position, and the distance between the said edges 4 and 5 is decreased, with the result that the sides 2 and 3 are held in spring-like tension in mirror-inverted convex curves, making the opening of the cup rigid and stable, inasmuch as the said sides, which are not in tension in the collapsed and closed state of the cup, have the effect of two tension-inducing leaf springs which are fixed in their open state by the action of the slightly deformed and sprung curve of the sides, which is achieved by exerting the aforementioned pressure and counterpressure on the edges 4 and 5, or by pulling the sides 2 and 3 apart.
• the cup may be furnished with a detachable edge or some flaps 15 as in Drawing No. 3, where such a detachable edge strip can also form a cleat, thus preventing the distribution of loose parts to the cup.
• the detachable edge or seal 15 is torn off along the perforated line 16. As long as the seal 15 has not been torn off, the user has definitive visual proof that the cup is unused.
• a special embodiment of the cup as specified in accordance with the invention is to furnish the cup with angled guides on each side of the folding lines 4 and 5 as in Drawing No. 2.
• these guides form brackets for the introduction of a flat cleat over the end of the guides. This locks the cup more stably in open position, while the shape of the cleat at the surface helps to shape the opening of the cup.
• Claims 3-5 specify embodiments of the invention which give the cup a smoother transition from the closed to the open position, which counteracts leakage in carton pasted with plastic film, which could otherwise be deformed such that the plastic coating could be torn and the cup would leak. It has emerged that if one adds three identical triangles 7 with folding lines within, as shown in Drawings no. 2 and No. 5, the centre line 11 in the erect state virtually rolls out through the perpendiculars of the said triangles, while the points 12 are displaced in stages until the straight centre line reaches the points 6, making the centre line a straight line. This effect takes place almost automatically, as a result of the spring-like action of the sides triggered by the folding of the cup.
• the undulating folding lines specified in Claim 5 will in addition enhance the said automatic effect, inasmuch as the undulating folding lines will be forced more closely together by the opening and closing of the cup and will thus have a spring-like, reinforcing effect on the said action.
• Claim 6 concerns a particularly important embodiment of the invention, inasmuch as it has proved possible to cut out or punch out the cup in one piece without joints from a plane sheet or length of cardboard, carton or plastic sheet which, besides the folding lines specified in Claim 1, is also embod ⁇ ied with the folding lines 18 as in Drawing No. 5.
• certain tabs 21 and 22 as in Drawing No. 6 arise, where the insides of the tabs are folded around the said lines 18.
• the edges of the said tabs are flush with the rim of the cup when the cup is assembled, rendering it waterproof if the surface of the material, or at least the inside surface, is proof against the contents which the cup is meant to contain.
• the tabs are bent back around the outside of the cylinder and may form a handle consisting of the two tabs 21 at one end of the cup, and at the other end of the cup the points of the tabs 22 overlap each other inside and under the bent-back flap 24, which is bent down over the tabs and fixes these in position without any gluing or welding of the material.
• the flap 23 has a similar function, but is further furnished with a slot which is moved down over the parts of the tabs 21 which form the handle, thus fixing the said tabs in a stable assembly.
• Claim 7 specifies a method of introducing a cleat which fixes the cup in its open position as described in Claim 2, inasmuch as the cup, as in Claim 6, has a naturally-formed space for the introduction of the cleat between the tabs 21 and 22 and the outside of the cup at the outer surface of the cylinder.
• Claim 8 concerns an embodiment of the cup as in Claims 6 and 7, where the cleat forms a permanent part of the sides of the cup, inasmuch as the cleat consists of a part of the flaps 15, which are detached when the seal of the cup is broken as described in Claim 1, but where Claim 8 specifies that the cleat consists of two congruent tabs which are permanent parts of the sheet or length of material from which the cup is cut or punched out, inasmuch as the two tabs are glued or welded together above the perforated tearing line when the cup is assembled as shown in Drawing No. 3.
• the cup as specified in Claim 9 is particularly suitable for informative purposes and for messages of a promotional nature, inasmuch as patterns, symbols, texts and pictures may be applied to the cup by means of already-known printing methods such as offset or screen printing.
• the print is applied to the plane sheet or lengths before or after the cups are cut or punched from it, and before the cups are assembled, or one may choose to apply the print after the assembly of the cups, when the sides of the cups are completely flat in the collapsed position of the cups and thus form a good surface .for the application of the print.
• the two curved sides of the open cup offer wide visual exposure surfaces which can be viewed without turning the cup. These exposure surfaces are particularly easy to view when the user receives the cup in collapsed form.
• the cup is therefore in addition a new medium for advertise ⁇ ments and other messages.
• the embodiment of the invention is a drinking cup, the cup can be used as a quick, cheap means of contact with many people, inasmuch as the cup can further be distributed in ordinary postal envelopes.
• Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a drinking cup as specified in accordance with this invention, manufactured in a transparent plastic material.
• Fig. 2 shows a similar cup, but in an opaque mate- rial, furnished with angled guides which allow for the introduction of variously-formed cleats.
• Fig. 3 shows a similar cup which may be manufac ⁇ tured by cutting or punching out from a sheet or length of cardboard, carton or plastic, inasmuch as the cleat is in one piece with the cup on the sheet.
• Fig. 4 shows a cup corresponding to the cup in Fig. 3, but with the cleat detached along a perforated line, after which the cup can be opened.
• Fig. 6 shows the cup as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as it looks on the sheet or length of material after cutting or punching out.
• Fig. 6 shows the cup as in Figs. 3-5, during assem ⁇ bly into an open cup.
• Fig. 1 shows the cup in open position after the discontinuous seal along the rim of the cup has been broken.
• the cup is injection-moulded or vacuum-moulded in a transparent plastic material, and the folding lines 4, 5, 8 and 11 are stamped in the material as V-shaped grooves.
• the sides 2 and 3 of the cup may be thicker along the opening of the cup than the other surfaces of the cup, which will enhance the spring-like fea- tures of the sides in the open position of the cup.
• the points 6 and 12 are intersection points of the said folding lines.
• Fig. 2 shows a similar injection-moulded cup, but in an opaque material shaped with angled guides on each side of the folding lines 4 and 5. These guides have longitudinal openings facing each other, such that a cleat may be introduced over the end of the angled guides at the bottom of the cup.
• the upper cleat shown in the drawing has a straight surface, which gives the cup a special curved opening.
• the lower cleat is slightly angled around its axis of symmetry, inasmuch as the shape of the cleat follows the natural open shape of the cup over the ends at the folding lines 4 and 5.
• the triangles 7 are formed with three isosceles triangles within them along the folding lines, facilitating a smoother transition from the open form of the cup to its collapsed position, such that the form with the triangles 7 is particularly applicable for manufacturing the cup from a particularly stiff material.
• Figs. 3 and 4 show a cup in collapsed position, the cup being cut or punched from a sheet or length of cardboard, carton or plastic sheet.
• the cup as in Fig. 3 is furnished with a cleat which is in one piece with the sides 2 and 3 of the cup, inasmuch as the cleat can be detached along a perforated line 16, leaving certain flaps 15, which can be seen in Fig. 4, and which are bent back along the folding lines 17 on both sides 2 and 3, whereby the clean insides of the flaps are turned outwards and thus form a point of contact for the lips of the mouth when the user drinks from the cup.
• the centre line 11 runs in the erect position between the aforementioned intersection points 6, inasmuch as the centre line thus divides the aforementioned triangles 7 and the bottom of the cup as described above.
• Fig. 5 shows the cut or punched cup in the unassembled state, with the aforementioned folding lines of the cup marked off on the sheet along with the folding lines 18 peculiar to the invention as in Fig. 5, around which the areas 19 and 20 shown in the figure are bent into tabs which run along the outside surfaces of the cup in the assembled state of the cup, inasmuch as the edges of the tabs are flush with the rim of the cup.
• the two parts of the flaps 15 of the cup which are above the broken line, and which form a cleat, will be glued or welded together into one cleat.
• the aforementioned triangles 7 are furnished on the sheet with folding' lines which run parallel with the base lines of the triangles, which gives the cup a smoother transition from the closed to the open position.
• Fig. 6 shows the cup as in Fig. 5 during assembly, but without the flaps 15 shown in Fig. 5. It can be seen that the tabs 21 and 22 are flush with the rim of the cup when open, which makes the cup waterproof, inasmuch as the liquid in the cup will only run out into the said tabs without running over the edge of the tabs, since the liquid level in the cup will always lie below the edges of the tabs.
• the flaps 23 and 24 are seen before they are turned down around the outside of the cylinder of the cup, thus fixing the tabs 21 and 22 in against the outer surface of the cylinder of the cup.
• the flap 23 is embodied with a cut or punched slot through which the two parts of the cup which form the handle are inserted when the flap is turned down over the tabs 21, locking the handle of the cup in a stable position.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8091045

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (25)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1992
  • 1992-02-20 DK DK021692A patent/DK170503B1/da not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1993
  • 1993-02-05 WO PCT/DK1993/000043 patent/WO1993016926A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1993-02-05 AU AU34499/93A patent/AU3449993A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1993-02-05 CA CA002130547A patent/CA2130547A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 1994
  • 1994-08-18 US US08/292,495 patent/US5460324A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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