WO2002015756A1 - Cup holder - Google Patents
Cup holder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002015756A1 WO2002015756A1 PCT/GB2001/003710 GB0103710W WO0215756A1 WO 2002015756 A1 WO2002015756 A1 WO 2002015756A1 GB 0103710 W GB0103710 W GB 0103710W WO 0215756 A1 WO0215756 A1 WO 0215756A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- holder
- cup
- sleeve
- band
- plastics material
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G23/00—Other table equipment
- A47G23/02—Glass or bottle holders
- A47G23/0208—Glass or bottle holders for drinking-glasses, plastic cups, or the like
- A47G23/0216—Glass or bottle holders for drinking-glasses, plastic cups, or the like for one glass or cup
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C44/00—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles
- B29C44/02—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
- B29C44/04—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles consisting of at least two parts of chemically or physically different materials, e.g. having different densities
- B29C44/0407—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles consisting of at least two parts of chemically or physically different materials, e.g. having different densities by regulating the temperature of the mould or parts thereof, e.g. cold mould walls inhibiting foaming of an outer layer
Definitions
- This invention relates to a cup holder for a cup which holder provides thermal insulation to enable a user to hold the cup containing a hot liquid; for example a hot beverage or other hot liquid comestibles.
- a hot liquid for example a hot beverage or other hot liquid comestibles.
- Convenience food and drink chains which dispense hot beverages such as coffee and tea and other hot liquid comestibles such as soup use large quantities of disposable cups typically of paper or plastics material.
- hot cups of coffee , tea and soup are handled by many customers, and the personnel serving them.
- the cups are usually too hot to handle for any length of time and there is a problem of holding them to drink the contents, and a greater problem in carrying them away for later consumption.
- people change hands when holding cups of hot liquid so there is also a greater risk of dropping the cups.
- the problem facing the invention is to provide a low-cost and effective means of holding hot beverages in disposable cups used in retail outlets where many beverages need to be dispensed rapidly to large numbers of people.
- a handleless holder for a separate, disposable cup which holder comprises a sleeve which is shaped and/or dimensioned to receive and support the cup so that the lip of the cup is spaced above the sleeve to enable a hot liquid to be drunk from the cup
- the holder is formed from a moulded plastics material, and includes a band comprising a core of foamed plastics material providing thermal insulation to enable the user to hold the cup at the band when it contains a hot liquid.
- a process for the manufacture of a holder of the invention as herein described comprises: injecting a mixture of a molten mass of plastics material and a pneumatogen therefor into a mould generally defining the shape of the holder which holder includes a relatively thick band; cooling the moulded mass until the relatively thick band has a molten core beneath a solidified surface; and returning the moulded mass to ambient pressure thereby permitting the pneumatogen in the band core to foam the plastics material to the final shape and/or dimensions of the holder.
- This invention further provides a holder wherever prepared by the process of this invention.
- the sleeve has an inner, substantially conical dimension or shape to accommodate a conical cup.
- This enables the cup to be placed in the holder when it is standing on a serving surface, following which the holder can be gripped and raised in order to lift the cup from the surface.
- the cross-section of the sleeve is smaller than the upper section of the cup adjacent the lip, so that the cup slides into the sleeve and is then retained by the upper section. This facilitates applying the sleeve to the cup and ensuring that the cup is firmly located before it is carried away, or used for drinking.
- the holder not only provides the thermal insulation to enable the cup to be held for longer periods, but also prevents the cup from sliding too far down into the sleeve, so that a circular region of the cup still projects above the top of the sleeve, thereby enabling this region to be placed against the user's lips when drinking the contents.
- the holder therefore does not prevent the user from drinking from the cup in the normal way.
- the sleeve is profiled so as to provide gaps between the sleeve and the side of the cup in order to improve the thermal insulation.
- the outer surface of the holder can be profiled to improve the user's grip thereon. Both of these features can be achieved by using a holder with a waisted cross-section.
- the holder has an out-turned lip which improves the rigidity of the holder and this lip is preferably of enlarged section.
- the holder has a lower skirt; for example, it is particularly preferred that the lower skirt is formed as a curved return edge which provides increased grip and stability for the cup.
- the moulded plastics material may include any low-cost plastics material, suitably a polymeric material, which maintains its dimensional integrity at the temperature of boiling water. It may be a thermoplastic material such as a homo- or copolymer of a substituted or unsubstituted olefin other than ethylene; for example, polypropylene especially isotatic propylene; polystyrene; or poly(vinyl chloride). It may also be formed in situ by reactive injection moulding (RIM); for example, a polyurethane. Such materials may be thermoplastic or thermoset materials.
- the pneumatogen admixed, typically in an amount of up to 5 wt.% but usually up to 1 wt.%, with the plastics material can be any material, typically a low molecular weight compound, which by volatilation and/or decomposition, yields a vapour which causes the core of the band to foam.
- examples include (for polystyrene) volatile hydrocarbons such as n-pentane; carbonates which decompose at elevated temperature to yield carbon dioxide; and (in the case of polyurethanes) water which reacts with a portion of the reactant isocyanate to form carbon dioxide.
- the plastics material charged to the injection moulder may include an amount, typically up to 10%, of virgin or post-industrial regrind.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for a cup
- Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the cup within the holder
- Figs. 3a and 3b show the cup in use.
- a holder 1 for a cup includes a sleeve 2 which receives the cup.
- the cup and the sleeve 2 are of a generally complimentary conical shape, i.e. so that the holder 1 can be placed on a surface 3 (Fig. 3a) the cup can be placed inside the sleeve 2, and then the holder 1 can be gripped and raised in order to drink the beverage (Fig. 3b).
- the cup has a lip 5 and the cross-section of the sleeve 2 is smaller than an upper section 4 of the cup adjacent the lip 5.
- the cup slides into the sleeve 2 and is retained by this upper section 4, thereby leaving a circular region between the upper lip 2a of the holder 1 and the lip 5 of the cup.
- This provides a more convenient and comfortable arrangement for drinking a hot beverage from the cup.
- the cross-section of holder 1 includes an out turned upper lip 2a of enlarged section, and a waisted portion including inner ribs 8, 9, and a lower skirt portion 10.
- the inner ribs 8, 9 provide gaps between the sleeve 2 and the side of the cup 1 thereby improving thermal insulation.
- the outer surface has complimentary ribs 11 , 12 which improve the user's grip.
- the enlarged lip 2a which is out turned, improves the rigidity of the sleeve.
- the holder 1 has a lower skirt 10, which enables the holder to be stood on a wet surface 3 without taking up too much liquid, e.g. spilt tea or coffee.
- the holder 1 can be made of any low-cost thermally insulating material, such as isotatic polypropylene.
- the cup In use, the cup is placed within the sleeve 2 which rests on the worksurface 3. In this position, as shown in Fig. 3a, there is a wide clearance 14 between the inner surface of sleeve 2 and the outer surface of the cup. However, when the holder 1 is gripped and raised by a user 15, free of the surface 3, the sleeve 2 slides up the cup to hold it as shown in Fig. 3b. This insulates the hot contents from the user's hand, whilst supporting the cup for normal drinking.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0304017A GB2380926B (en) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-08-17 | Cup holder |
US10/362,267 US20040188450A1 (en) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-08-17 | Cup holder |
AU2001279953A AU2001279953A1 (en) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-08-17 | Cup holder |
EP01958226A EP1311180A1 (en) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-08-17 | Cup holder |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0020810.8A GB0020810D0 (en) | 2000-08-23 | 2000-08-23 | Cup holder |
GB0020810.8 | 2000-08-23 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2002015756A1 true WO2002015756A1 (en) | 2002-02-28 |
Family
ID=9898175
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2001/003710 WO2002015756A1 (en) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-08-17 | Cup holder |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20040188450A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1311180A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2001279953A1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB0020810D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002015756A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070138188A1 (en) * | 2005-12-15 | 2007-06-21 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Drink sleeve |
US20090097947A1 (en) * | 2007-10-16 | 2009-04-16 | Rinaldi Janet L | Bottle holder for school desk or tables |
JP2012532071A (en) | 2009-07-06 | 2012-12-13 | フータマキ・オサケユキテュア・ユルキネン | Process for manufacturing cups and multiple cups |
WO2011003569A2 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2011-01-13 | Huhtamäki Oyj | Cardboard container |
US20110062044A1 (en) * | 2009-09-14 | 2011-03-17 | High Spirits, LLC | Beverage container spacing device and method |
US9585501B1 (en) * | 2013-11-12 | 2017-03-07 | L. Robert Hamelink | Beverage cup insulating seal member and associated insulated beverage cup assembly |
US10399760B2 (en) * | 2015-04-29 | 2019-09-03 | Cj Cheiljedang Corporation | Complex packaging container for instant food |
KR200485922Y1 (en) * | 2016-12-07 | 2018-03-12 | 순천향대학교 산학협력단 | Cup holder having function of cup saucer |
USD853202S1 (en) | 2017-09-23 | 2019-07-09 | 7252502 Manitoba Ltd. | Cup insulation sleeve |
US11760529B2 (en) | 2019-04-05 | 2023-09-19 | Huhtamaki, Inc. | Container and bottom end construction therefor |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1308499A (en) * | 1969-12-09 | 1973-02-21 | Hercules Inc | Method for making foamed thermoplastic structures |
US5669553A (en) * | 1996-08-08 | 1997-09-23 | Sealright Co., Inc. | Insulating cup sleeve |
US5765716A (en) * | 1996-11-25 | 1998-06-16 | Dopaco, Inc. | Cup protector |
GB2321872A (en) * | 1995-07-18 | 1998-08-12 | Coraltech Ltd | Moulded article and method and tool for manufacture thereof |
US6047852A (en) * | 1997-11-05 | 2000-04-11 | Waddington North America, Inc. | Hot beverage lid with thermal flex-guards |
US6053352A (en) * | 1998-09-14 | 2000-04-25 | Dopaco, Inc. | Sleeve protector for cups |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3740302A1 (en) * | 1987-11-27 | 1989-06-08 | Telefunken Electronic Gmbh | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT |
GB8923917D0 (en) * | 1989-10-24 | 1989-12-13 | Maynerd David | Beverage container holder |
-
2000
- 2000-08-23 GB GBGB0020810.8A patent/GB0020810D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2001
- 2001-08-17 AU AU2001279953A patent/AU2001279953A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-08-17 WO PCT/GB2001/003710 patent/WO2002015756A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-08-17 EP EP01958226A patent/EP1311180A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-08-17 US US10/362,267 patent/US20040188450A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-08-17 GB GB0304017A patent/GB2380926B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1308499A (en) * | 1969-12-09 | 1973-02-21 | Hercules Inc | Method for making foamed thermoplastic structures |
GB2321872A (en) * | 1995-07-18 | 1998-08-12 | Coraltech Ltd | Moulded article and method and tool for manufacture thereof |
US5669553A (en) * | 1996-08-08 | 1997-09-23 | Sealright Co., Inc. | Insulating cup sleeve |
US5765716A (en) * | 1996-11-25 | 1998-06-16 | Dopaco, Inc. | Cup protector |
US6047852A (en) * | 1997-11-05 | 2000-04-11 | Waddington North America, Inc. | Hot beverage lid with thermal flex-guards |
US6053352A (en) * | 1998-09-14 | 2000-04-25 | Dopaco, Inc. | Sleeve protector for cups |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2380926A (en) | 2003-04-23 |
GB0020810D0 (en) | 2000-10-11 |
GB0304017D0 (en) | 2003-03-26 |
US20040188450A1 (en) | 2004-09-30 |
GB2380926B (en) | 2004-05-26 |
EP1311180A1 (en) | 2003-05-21 |
AU2001279953A1 (en) | 2002-03-04 |
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