WO1995023744A1

WO1995023744A1 - Disposable cup with cover of the 'shaker' type, for the preparation of instant coffee, and other drinks, featuring a special straw socket and providing the possibility for quantitative selection of the ingredients contained

Info

Publication number: WO1995023744A1
Application number: PCT/GR1995/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Sopeoglou
Original assignee: Alexander Sopeoglou
Priority date: 1994-03-04
Filing date: 1995-03-03
Publication date: 1995-09-08
Also published as: AU1859495A

Abstract

Disposable cup (1B) with cover (11) of the 'shaker' type, for the preparation of instant coffee and other drinks, with a special straw socket (3), offering the possibility for quantitative selection of the ingredients contained, consisting of a cup-shaped cover (1A) and the base (1B). The cover (1A) is specially designed so as to divide itself in two horizontal chambers (1, 2), the one lying on top of the other, in which chambers are placed the ingredients for the making of coffee or any other drink. On the cover there is also a special socket (3) through which we punch the straw and thus we can drink our coffee while we keep the cover (1A) closed and without running the risk of spilling the content. The base (1B) is also designed in such a fashion that irrespective of the form its rest part may take, that is any form we desire, to enable us, with the help of a special groove (7), to stick a membrane on it and fill it up with water, and so supply the market withit when it is considered applicable.

Description

DESCRIPTION

DISPOSABLE CUP WITH COVER OF THE "SHAKER" TYPE, FOR THE PREPARATION OF INSTANT COFFEE, AND OTHER DRINKS, FEATURING A SPECIAL STRAW SOCKET AND PROVIDING THE POSSIBILITY FOR QUANTITATIVE SELECTION OF THE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED. This specific technical innovation refers to a disposable cup with cover of the "shaker" type for the preparation of instant coffee, and other drinks, featuring a special socket for the straw, and providing the possibility for quantitative selection of the ingredients contained. It consists of two parts: the base (FIG.2) and the cover (FIG.1).

Different kinds of disposable cups for the preparation of instant coffee, and other drinks., have been produced many in the past, though, all of them presented the user with serious disadvantages, the main one being, the compulsory use of an already prepared coffee and sugar mixt, thing that obviously fails to satisfy every individual taste. An other disadvantage is the existence of many small bags of ingredients in the cup, so making difficult the preparation of drinks outdoors i.e. sports fields, construction sites. during excursions, in camps etc. An other disadvantage is that the user had to uncover the cup in order to drink the content, thing that exposes the user and the content to the risk of getting stained or spilled respectively.

The above serious advantages that somehow make the old products problematic and difficult to use, are taken care of by this specific technical innovation and the advantages it incorporates. These advantages are mainly owing to the special design of the cover and its base, that enable the user to prepare his instant coffee or any other drink of his choice, fast, while using the quantity of ingredients he personally prefers. Thus, instead of having the product manufacturer (coffee or other drink) determining the proportion of ingredients that are going to be used, thing that by itself limits the available mixt variations to the few standard ones (plain, medium, sweet), while at the same time forces the user towards their compulsory selection, with this specific technical innovation we achieve the individual making of each drink according to the proportion of ingredients the user wants to make use of. The cup cover of this specific technical innovation, the external perspective of which is presented in FIG.1 while the internal one in FIG.5, is cup-shaped and specifically designed so as to divide itself in two horizontal chambers (1), (2). These two chambers lie the one on top of the other, and can take any shape we wish them to, with the use for this purpose of two aluminum foil membranes or any other type of membranes (FIG.3) and (FIG.4), the shape and the size of which, is commensurable to the shape and size of the chambers (1) and (2).

These membranes can be stuck on the existing, for this particular reason, special grooves (4), (5) that serve the purpose of isolating the two chambers, one from another, thus preventing the mixing of ingredients contained in them.

For the easier removal of the membrane (9) (FIG.4) it was considered necessary the creation of a step (6) that is used for keeping the tongue (11) of the membrane away from the inner side of the cover (FIG.6), or else

the tongue could attach iteself onto the inner surface of the cover and become very difficult for the user to take it up and pull it out in order to remove the membrane.

The creation of this step is decisive and very important to the easy removal of the membrane (9), or else the user may spoil his fingers in his effort to get hold of the tongue in order to remove the membrane

This little step can find a broader use in other cup-shaped items that seal up some internal parts of theirs by means of a membrane and whose tongue requires easy pulling out.

The cover also features a special socket for the straw (3) which in fact is a projection made by the "thermoforming" process, whereby it is created a thin membrane in its tip that can be easily punched through by a straw or be cut. The nozzle of the projection (3) is sealed on the lower side by a part of the membrane itself (9), for safe packing, and can be easily punched with the straw which is included in the packing. This way, the user is allowed to easily drink his coffee, or any other beverage, with the cup covered and without running the risk of spilling the content. Its base (FIG.2) is also designed in such a way, that

irrespective of the shape it may take the rest of its part, which in fact can be any shape, such as, circular, square, prismatic etc., to form a special groove (7) just before the rim of the cup, where it can be stuck a non penetrable aluminum or plain membrane in order to enable us to fill, at will, the cup with water, and accordingly supply the market, that is, whenever such product version is considered desirable and consequently marketable.

In FIG.2 it is indicatively shown a prismatic form.

The use of this technical innovation when somenone wishes to prepare an instant coffee or any other drink is as follows: At first, and in the case that the cup contains water we unseal it. Then, we remove the external membrane of the cover (8) (FIG.3) and we empty as much of the ingredient of the first chamber (1) we wish into the cup. After emptying the content of the chamber as prior mentioned it appears on its bottom the membrane (9) (FIG.4) which seals the second chamber (2) and the special straw socket (3). This membrane has a special split (10) that helps removing and simultaneously detaching the membrane from the cup, while a part of the membrane remains attached on the cover. This serves for keeping the special straw socket sealed (3) as in FIG.4A.

Thus, we remove the membrane and empty as much of the content of the chamber (2) we wish inside the cup. This way it is fully served the purpose of this particular innovation, that is, the making of instant coffee or any other beverage by using the proportion of ingredients that certainly will suit every individual taste. In case the cup does not contain water, then we fill it up with fresh water, we cover it with its cover, and shake it well untill the ingredients that have already been mixed, as described in the last paragraph, are fully dissolved in the water.

Finally, if we wish to make use of the straw which is included in the packing we put the straw in the cup by punching it through the special socket of the cover (3). This way we can easily prepare an instant coffee or any other drink by using the exact proportion of ingredients we wish to, and not being obliged to drink a sweet coffee while we prefer a medium or a plain one.

Claims

1. Disposable cup (1B) of the "shaker" type for the preparation of instant coffee and other beverages, with cover (1A), that is divided in two horizontal chambers,

(1) (2) the one on top of the other, by means of two membranes (8) and (9).

The membrane (9) has such a form, that once it is stuck on the groove (4), it seals with a part of it the nozzle oτ the special straw socket projection (3), while its rest part seals the chamber (2).

The tongue (11) of the membrane (9) is kept away from touching the inner perimeter of the chamber (1) with the help of a special "distance keeping" step (6) in order to easily catch and tear part of it.

The second chamber (1) is sealed on the groove (5) with a similarly formed membrane. (8)

2. Cover (1A) that is used on a disposable "shaker" type cup, for the preparation of instant coffee, and other beverages, which is divided in two horizontal chambers (1),

(2), the one on top of the other, by means of two membranes (8) and (9). Such is the form of the membrane (9), that once is stuck on the groove (4) a part of it seals the nozzle of the special straw socket projection (3), while its rest part seals the chamber (2).

The tongue (11) of the membrane (9) is kept away from the inner perimeter of the chamber (1) by means of a "distance keeping" step (6) that helps catching and consequently removing a certain part of the membrane.

The second chamber (1) is sealed on the groove (5) by a similarly formed membrane. (8)

3. The membrane (9), as referred to in claim 2, has a split (10) whose form and position serves as the starting point for accurately tearing the membrane (9) at the exact required point (FIG.4A), in order for the membrane not to be entirely detached, but to leave instead intact the part that seals the nozzle of the special straw socket projection (3), for safety reasons, and until the user decides to punch it with the straw.

4. The special straw socket projection (3) as referred to in claims 2 and 3 is a projection which due to its manufacture with the "thermoforming" process (FIG 6.A-A) is subjected to expulsion, and, therefore, a thin membrane is formed in its end, that can be easily perforated by a straw. This application can find broader use on other cup-shaped items.

5. The "distance keeping" step (6) as referred to in claim 2, can take any form and size, and can also find application on whichever item utilizes membranes and needs to be kept away from inner sides, in order to facilitate the user in getting hold of the membrane and remove it without spoiling his finger.

6. The chambers (1) and (2) as referred to in claim 2, lie the one on top of the other, and can take whichever shape and size required. They are formed by two membranes (8) and (9), that are stuck on the specially for this purpose made, grooves (4), (5).

These chambers can be increased in number simply by following the basic idea, that is, using separating membranes positioned successively the one on top of the other. These chambers serve the purpose of storing inside them different ingredients, one kind in each chamber, that cannot get mixed unless the user decides so.