WO2016039708A1

WO2016039708A1 - An ice separator inner cup for disposable cups

Info

Publication number: WO2016039708A1
Application number: PCT/TR2015/050094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serhan Kaptan YAŞAR
Original assignee: Yaşar Serhan Kaptan
Priority date: 2014-09-08
Filing date: 2015-09-08
Publication date: 2016-03-17

Abstract

This invention relates to a cup enabling the cooling of any kind of fizzy or unfizzy, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages by using ice cubes, but meanwhile, enabling the consumption of the beverage without spoiling the taste and, more importantly, sanitarily (hygienically). The inner cup (1) comprises a inner cup mouth (8) enabling it to fit onto any kind of a disposable outer cup (2), wherein the inner cup bottom (5) has a conical form.

Description

AN ICE SEPARATOR INNER CUP FOR DISPOSABLE CUPS Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an inner cup separating the ice from the beverage in order to enable it to be drunk especially in disposable cups with a lid, without spoiling the taste and sanitarily (hygienically) by cooling any kind of fizzy or unfizzy, alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages with ice.

State of the Art (Prior Art)

It has become a necessity and a regular practice to drink beverages, especially fizzy or alcoholic beverages, by cooling both in summer and winter, though in hot weather generally, and it is even recommended by some beverage producers. Drinking beverages cool makes the beverage silky, and virtually adds zest in many beverages as well as decreasing body heat. It is perceived in this way especially with fizzy beverages, yet there may be a similar perception for alcoholic beverages. For this cooling process, apart from actually putting the beverages into container-size coolers (refrigerators) and waiting for a long time, the easiest, the quickest and the most efficient method is to put small ice cubes (particles/blocks) into cups, in which beverages are served while serving. The purpose of this ice mixed into the beverages is to cool the liquids in which they are added and this is achieved in a short time. Particularly, although the cooling process can be carried out at homes by keeping beverages in refrigerators in a container (in the bottle/box), it is not possible for a beverage to be cooled at any time or repeatedly with regard to space and time both for the capacity of refrigerators and for being readily supplied or kept outside. In such cases, the method of consuming beverages by mixing them with ice is preferred both at homes and at restaurants. However, outside homes and especially at fast-food-like chain restaurants where there is an obligation for fizzy beverages being supplied in big-size containers to be served by means of a drain assembly and in large sale amounts in minutes and which are regarded as one of the premises of globalization in the whole world, beverages poured from drains are served in carton or plastic cups of various sizes by putting plenty of ice into them and customers consume the beverages they desire mandatorily in this way. In such systems where seconds are counted in business planning, profitability can be increased, all demands can be met swiftly even at the busiest occasions, and customer satisfaction can be ensured in this way.

However, in this way, after being produced in a separate machine it is almost impossible for ice which is kept in big metal containers under drains from which beverages are poured and in which those disposable plastic or carton cups are plunged into with hands to be hygienic and sanitary all the time due to reasons like either raw materials (tap water, insufficient filtering systems), production defects (contaminated or neglected machinery), touching with hands while filling the cups, or materials contaminating it while waiting without a cover, etc.. It is known that any kind of beverages to be drunk after cooling may be contaminated with numerous harmful substances including Escherichia coli, and may cause cases such as diarrhea, and intoxication especially in Africa or in some holiday destinations where the temperature and thus consumption is high and where time and materials are limited. In addition to this, no matter how pure it is, ice melting into beverages mix with the beverage after liquification, which reduces the concentration of beverages, dilutes them and alters their taste. Especially with fruit juices, this is not a favorable case, but the case is not different for fizzy beverages either, dilution quickens the process of the emergence of the perception of "gone flat" for such beverages. This process increases and quickens even much more if ice is added into the same amount of beverage as the beverage gets warmer. As a result, it is obvious that neither the mixture of extra water, even though it is pure, into the liquid to be drunk, nor the infection of the body with any kind of germs and microscopic organic or inorganic materials due to ice produced/kept with impure water is an acceptable situation.

A new technique which is thought to be developed hoping to be a remedy to this oldest, most prevalent but unfavorable situation in the state of the art is a method in which a glass or silicon mould forming a second compartment is used by placing it into the cup where the liquid is to be poured into and filling the gap between these two with water and freezing the water as a result of keeping this formation in the freezing compartment/deep freeze of the refrigerator at least one or more hours and the beverage is consumed by putting it into this cup of ice or the inner casing consisting of ice at the end of these processes. However, while this newest method doesn't eliminate any of the disadvantages best known in the state of the art mentioned before; that is, in addition to any type of unwanted risks such as water from the melting ice mixing with the beverage or causing infection of the body with some germs because of insanitary water used in ice production, it creates new disadvantages, in short, it is entirely impossible for it to be used/applied especially in fast-food-like companies where trillions of beverages, ice particles and cups are consumed daily throughout the world except from wealthy households or luxurious night clubs; because, both high- cost materials such as silicon and both high-cost and fragile materials such as glass are used and the application methods take long and the space it covers is large.

Object of the Invention and Brief Description of the Invention

This invention relates to a cup which enables the cooling of any kind of fizzy or unfizzy, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages by using ice cubes, but which enables, meanwhile, the consumption of the beverage without spoiling the taste and, more importantly, sanitarily (hygienically); wherein the object is that

• Direct contact of the ice with the beverage is prevented and the taste of the beverage is not spoiled,

• The ice doesn't melt quickly, · The ice cools the beverage quickly,

• The ice doesn't cause sweat on the outer surface of the cup,

• The inner cup is a very good conductor,

• It can be placed into disposable cups conveniently,

• The beverage in the inner cup can be consumed completely, · The used material is not of a rigid material and is unbreakable,

• It is low cost disposable which can be produced and consumed in millions,

• The mouth of the consumer doesn't contact where the hands touch, and it is sanitary,

• The inner and the outer (disposable outer) cups can be separated easily, · It can be used for refreshments such as ice-cream, milkshake, smoothie and gelato as well,

• The inner and the outer (disposable outer) cups can be used separately on demand,

• Stocking, display and shipping can be carried out easily and cheaply. Description of the Figures Illustrating the Invention

The figures and the related descriptions used for describing the ice separator inner cup for disposable cups developed with this invention are as follows.

Figure 1 : Side view of the disposable outer cup and inner cup Figure 2: Top view of the disposable outer cup and inner cup

Figure 3: Side view of the use of the disposable outer cup and inner cup with a drinking straw

Description of the Elements/Sections/Parts Comprising the Invention

For a better description of the ice separator inner cup for disposable cups developed with this invention, parts and sections in the figures are labelled with numbers; whereas, the numbers refer to the following.

1 . Inner cup

2. Disposable outer cup

3. Drinking straw 4. Ice chamber

5. Inner cup bottom

6. Disposable outer cup bottom

7. Lid

8. Inner cup mouth Detailed Description of the Invention

An inner cup (1 ) used for drinking any kind of fizzy or unfizzy, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages cool and sanitarily (hygienic) without spoiling the taste and separating the ice from the beverage; characterized in that, the inner cup(1 ) comprises an inner cup mouth (8) enabling it to fit onto any kind of a disposable outer cup (2) and the inner cup bottom (5) has a conical form.

An embodiment of the invention comprises a lid (7) used for preventing any materials from entering the beverage and preventing the contact of the beverage with air and drinking the beverage without spilling. This lid (7) is punctured and the beverage may be consumed with a drinking straw (3) through this lid. The inner cup (1 ) doesn't have an entirely flat form, and the inner cup bottom (5) has a nipping conical form. The advantage of such a design is that it constitutes a setting which preserves the ice easily by forming a certain ice chamber (4) between the inner cup (1 ) and the disposable outer cup (2). Yet another advantage is that the conical form enables full contact of the drinking straw (3) with the beverage making complete consumption possible. The disposable outer cup bottom (6) has a flat form to protect the content without falling over, being able to stand on any surface.

First, ice cubes of suitable size are placed into the disposable outer cup (2), later the inner cup (1 ) is placed into the outer cup (2) in order to enable contact with the ice. Thus, the beverage in the inner cup (1 ) is cooled without contacting the ice and it preserves this coolness for a long time. The inner cup (1 ) and the disposable outer cup (2) can be made of materials like metal, plastic, biosoluble plastic, carton or glass. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner cup (1 ) is made of a material conducting the coolness of the ice, and the disposable outer cup (2) is made of a material insulating the heat from the outer environment.

The inner cup mouth (8) has a convex form. This convex form serves for the object of fitting the inner cup (1 ) onto the disposable outer cup (2).

It provides great convenience in making the beverage ready for service quickly, and easily without spoiling the taste by saving time in fast-food chain restaurants where the customer potential is high. The lightweight materials used in the production of the invention provide great ease of use when compared to glass products available in the market. The invention makes it possible for beverages not only kept in fast-food restaurants but also in short trekking or school trip destinations to be handled easily by preserving the coolness. The inner cup (1 ) can be of different sizes, shapes, materials and colours in order to fit easily onto any kind of disposable outer cups (2) of any size and shape.

Claims

1. An inner cup (1 ) used for drinking any kind of fizzy or unfizzy, alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages cool and sanitarily (hygienic) without spoiling the taste and enabling separation of the ice from the beverage; characterized in that, the inner cup (1 ) comprises an inner cup mouth (8) enabling it to fit onto any kind of a disposable outer cup (2) and the inner cup bottom (5) has a conical form.

2. An inner cup (1 ) according to Claim 1 , used for drinking any kind of fizzy or unfizzy, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages cool and sanitarily (hygienic) without spoiling the taste and enabling separation of the ice from the beverage; characterized in that, the inner cup mouth (8) has a convex form.

3. An inner cup (1 ) according to Claim 1 , used for drinking any kind of fizzy or unfizzy, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages cool and sanitarily (hygienic) without spoiling the taste and enabling separation of the ice from the beverage; characterized in that, the inner cup (1 ) is made of metal, plastic, biosoluble plastic, carton or glass.