Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Hollow or container type article – Polymer or resin containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-07-24
Dye, Rena L. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Hollow or container type article
Polymer or resin containing
C428S035700, C428S034200, C428S206000, C428S220000, C428S313500, C428S339000, C428S349000, C428S542800, C229S403000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265040
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to an insulating sleeve for a container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The production and use of disposable containers, such as cups, is well known with production measured in the billions of units annually. Because of this volume, the business is fiercely competitive and cost is measured in units of one thousand. A change of a few percent in cost can make a container unsaleable, particularly to large fast food chains.
Paper and paperboard are widely used as materials in the production of disposable containers because they are inexpensive and amenable to very high volume production. They have limitations, however, particularly in containing hot liquids, such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc., which are dispensed from vending machines or supplied in fast food or takeout restaurants. The initial temperature of coffee poured into a disposable cup can exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in the temperature on the outside of the disposable which is painful to hold. A typical reaction to this thermal pain can cause spillage, resulting in severe damage to the skin, and inevitable product liability litigation.
Thick walled insulated cups are bulky, taking up extensive volume in storage and disposal. The use of a thick walled insulated cup for cool beverages is not cost effective.
Accordingly, there still exists a need for an inexpensive container sleeve which provides a controlled amount of heat transfer to warn the user that a hot liquid is contained therein, which insulates sufficiently to protect against pain or burn, which is stackable for shipping and mass sales, and which is microwave compatible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a thermally insulated sleeve adapted to fit over a cup. The sleeve has a sidewall having an inside surface and an outer surface. The sidewall is adapted to seal the sidewall upon itself and to form a seam. A thin thermally insulating coating having a controlled thickness is supported by the sidewall. The thin thermally insulating coating is comprised of a binder and void containing particles, ranging from 0.1 microns to 200 microns in size, adapted to being restricted by the binder. A heat-activated adhesive is supported by the inside surface of the sidewall. When the sleeve is heated the heat activated adhesive bonds the sleeve to the cup.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3468467 (1969-09-01), Amberg
patent: 4237171 (1980-12-01), Laage et al.
patent: 5145107 (1992-09-01), Silver et al.
patent: 5226585 (1993-07-01), Varano
patent: 5363982 (1994-11-01), Sadlier
patent: 5490631 (1996-02-01), Iioka et al.
patent: 5705242 (1998-01-01), Andersen et al.
patent: 5766709 (1998-06-01), Geddes et al.
patent: 5952068 (1999-09-01), Neale et al.
Neale Douglas L.
Pasin Richard J.
Dye Rena L.
Gibbons Del Deo Dolan Griffinger & Vecchione
Insulation Dimension Corporation
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