Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paper or paperboard cup – Insulated
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-14
2001-09-11
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paper or paperboard cup
Insulated
C229S004500, C220S738000, C220S739000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286754
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to containers and more particularly to a holder for a paperboard cup, such as those commonly employed in vending machines and in fast food outlets for dispensing hot coffee. Cup holders may be fashioned of corrugated paperboard, molded plastic materials, or specially configured paperboard. In the fast food industry, one requirement of such holders is that they be inexpensive to fabricate, easy to store and use, while also yielding appreciable thermal insulation so that the consumers do not feel uncomfortable when holding a cup of hot coffee.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the practice of this invention, a paperboard holder for hot coffee is fashioned from a unitary blank of paperboard. The blank consists of a strip, also termed a main strip, which is arcuate. The arcuate strip has a lower edge and an upper edge, with the upper edge having a plurality of flaps integrally foldably connected to the main strip. The lower edge of the strip is concave and the upper edge is convex. The flaps are spaced apart from each other along the main arcuate strip and are each provided with a plurality of openings which extend completely through the paperboard. The flaps are folded substantially 180 degrees back onto one of the two strip surfaces, the ends of the main strip are overlapped and glued together, and the resultant annular or ring shaped structure is placed on a coffee cup by sliding it upwardly, beginning at the bottom or smallest diameter portion of the coffee cup, with the flaps positioned between the main strip and the cup outer surface. The user holds the cup of hot coffee by placing the thumb and fingertips on the holder, with the thermal insulating properties of the paperboard flaps acting to inhibit heat transfer to the fingertips from the hot coffee in the cup, and also utilizing the insulating properties of the air trapped within the openings in each of the flaps. Each flap is sandwiched between the exterior surface of the coffee cup and the main arcuate strip. Thus, the known low thermal conductivity properties of both air and paperboard are utilized in this invention.
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Blackman Stephen M.
Jensen Kurt D.
Stier David E.
Elkins Gary E.
International Paper Company
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