Abstract:
The invention provides a foldable cup comprising a sheet of plastics material ( 1 ) having a container piece ( 2 ) integral with at least one handle piece ( 3 ), said container piece ( 2 ) having fold lines ( 7, 10 ) enabling it to be transformed from a flat condition into a folded container, and said handle piece ( 3 ) having fold lines enabling the piece to be formed into a handle extending from and held in position relative to the container. When transformed from a flat to a folded condition, the container is folded in such a way as to provide leak proof seals, enabling the cup to safely hold both liquids and solids.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to containers made from a one-piece flat sheet, made of for instance, waterproof material so that the containers may be used to hold both liquids and solids. In particular the invention relates to containers made from a one-piece flat sheet having an integral handle.  
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Foldable containers are known for use as vessels such as cups for holding drinks or foods for personal consumption. Such foldable containers are either simple in structure in which case they will not retain their folded condition without hand or finger pressure being applied to them, or they are relatively complex structures including clamps or other devices for attaching to the folded container body in order to maintain its folded condition.  
         [0003]     Furthermore, such containers are rarely provided with a handle to facilitate the handling of the container whilst it contains hot food or drinks. In the case where a handle is provided, it is a separate piece that requires attachment to the container body.  
         [0004]     There is a need for a simple foldable container having an integral foldable handle, which may be maintained in its folded condition without using a separate fastening or other element which add to the overall complexity and cost of the article.  
       STATEMENT OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to the present invention there is provided a foldable cup comprising a sheet of material having a container piece integral with at least one handle piece, said container piece having fold lines enabling it to be transformed from a flat condition into a folded container, and said handle piece having fold lines enabling the handle piece to be formed into a handle extending from and held in position relative to the container.  
         [0006]     In a preferred embodiment the cup comprises one integral handle piece. In an alternative embodiment the cup comprises two integral handle pieces.  
         [0007]     Preferably the handle comprises fold lines that define a central gripping section. More preferably, the handle is formed by folding the handle piece about said fold lines thereon and then retaining the formed handle to the container by the folding interaction of the formed handle and container. Alternatively the handle is formed by folding the handle piece about said fold lines thereon and then retaining the formed handle to the formed container by the use of integral fastening means.  
         [0008]     In a preferred embodiment said folded container is formed by folding the container piece about fold lines thereon. Preferably said container piece fold lines define at least two corner pieces. More preferably said at least two corner pieces are folded across one another and secured by an integral fastening means.  
         [0009]     Preferably, the integral fastening means are mating connection elements, more preferably press-stud fastenings. In an alternative embodiment said integral fastening means is said formed handle.  
         [0010]     In a preferred embodiment said container piece fold lines define at least face, over which said at least two corner pieces can be folded and fastened. Preferably the container piece fold lines define a self-supporting base.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment, the container piece comprises a sheet of material substantially dodecagonal in shape. Preferably said sheet of material is a waterproof material. More preferably, the material is a plastics material, for example polypropylene. Preferably, the material is sufficiently flexible that it may be readily folded about fold lines scored into it. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view of the cup having a container portion and a handle portion, in its unfolded flat condition;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows the container portion of  FIG. 1  being assembled by a user;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the handle portion of  FIG. 1  being assembled by a user;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows the cup of  FIG. 1  in a folded formation;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a plan view of the cup in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention in its unfolded flat condition; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the cup in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention in its unfolded flat condition, the cup having a container portion and two handle portions. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the accompanying drawings, a foldable cup is illustrated in its unfolded flat condition. The cup comprises a sheet of material  1 , said sheet further comprising a container piece  2  and a handle piece  3 . The sheet  1  is provided with a plurality of fold lines which have been scored into the body of the sheet.  
         [0020]     The container piece  2  is dodecagonal in shape. By “dodecagonal” is meant that the shape is a twelve-sided figure having the general shape shown in  FIG. 1 , rather than the shape of a regular dodecagon. In an alternative embodiment, the shape could be hexagonal or any other suitable shape. The container piece  2  is provided with inner fold lines  5 , which define a self-supporting base  6 . In the present embodiment, the self-supporting base  6  is rectangular in shape, comprising two long fold lines  5 ′ and two short fold lines  5 ″. Alternatively the self-supporting base  6  is any other suitable shape. By “self-supporting”, is meant that, when the cup is in its folded condition, the base  6  allows the cup to stand upright without the need for external support.  
         [0021]     A fold line  7  extends from each corner of the self-supporting base  6 . Each fold line  7  extends to a corner of one of two sides of the dodecagon which are each parallel to one of two opposing fold lines  5  of the self supporting base  6 . In the present embodiment said two opposing fold lines  5  are the two shortest fold lines  5 ″ of the rectangular self supporting base  6 . Fold lines  7  also define the two faces of the cup,  8  and  9 .  
         [0022]     A second fold line  10  extends from each corner of the rectangle  6 . Each second fold line  10  extends to a corner that is itself adjacent to one of the corners joined by a fold line  7  (the corner joined by fold line  10  being one which itself is not joined by a fold line  7 ). The fold lines  10  and  7  define a corner piece  11 . In the present embodiment there are provided four corner pieces, each generally triangular in shape. The fold lines  10  also define two side pieces,  14  and  15 .  
         [0023]     The face  8  is provided with a press stud  12 . The two corner pieces  11  and  11 ′ adjacent to the face  8  are each provided with hole  13 ′ and  13 ″ respectively, positioned such that when folded across the front of the face  8  each hole accommodates the press-stud  12 . The side piece  14  is provided with a hole  13  positioned such that when the corner piece  11 , (which is adjacent to both the face  8  and the side piece  14 ) is folded, using fold lines  7  and  10 , towards the face  8 , the hole  13  is aligned with and can accommodate the press stud  12 . The side piece  15  is provided with a press stud mating part  16 . The press stud mating part  16  is positioned such that, when the corner piece  11 ′, is folded using the fold lines  7  and  10  towards the face  8 , the three holes  13 ,  13 ′ and  13 ′ are aligned with and can accommodate the press stud mating part, such that it can meet and be snapped together with the press stud  12 .  
         [0024]     The handle piece  3  is integral with the edge of the dodecagon which defines the edge of the face piece  9 .The handle piece extends from the two corners  23  and  24 , that define said edge. The handle piece  3 , is provided with three fold lines  17 ,  17 ′ and  17 ″ which traverse the width thereof. The fold lines  17 ,  17 ′ and  17 ″ divide the handle  3  into four sections: an upper handle piece  18 , a central gripping section  19 , a lower handle piece  20  and a tongue  21 .  
         [0025]     A spine  26  is located in the central gripping section  19 . In the present embodiment the spine  26  is rectangular in shape. Alternatively the spine could be any other suitable shape. The spine  26  is defined by two parallel fold lines  27 . The two lines  27  form the two longest sides of the rectangular spine  26 , and each extend longitudinally from the fold line  17  to the fold line  17 ′. A gripping surface  31  is disposed on either side of the spine  26 . The upper handle piece  18  is provided with two fold lines  22  which extend from the corners  23  and  24  to the fold line.  17 . Adjacent to each fold line  22  is an edge piece  32 . The fold lines  22  connect the fold line  17  to form an upper short edge  25  of the spine  26 . Two further fold lines  28  define the lower short edge  29  of the spine  26 . The two fold lines  28  extend from the two corners of the lower short edge  29  of the spine  26  across the lower handle piece  20  and extend to the two ends of the fold line  17 ″. Adjacent to each fold line  28  is an edge piece  33 . The edge pieces  32  and  33 , along with the gripping surface  31  form a side panel  34 .  
         [0026]     A tongue  21  is located below the fold line  17 ″. The tongue has curved edges  30  at the end thereof. The width of the tongue  21  is not greater than the than the shortest side of the self supporting base  6 . In an alternative embodiment the width of the tongue bows outwards towards the center thereof, the width of the bottom leading edge of the tongue not exceeding the shortest side of the self supporting base  6 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates the container piece  2  being folded to form a container. The two corner pieces  11  and  11 ″ adjacent to the face  8  are folded towards the exterior of face  8 . The corner piece  11  adjacent to the side piece  14  is folded towards the face  8  first. In folding the corner piece  11  towards the face  8 , the side piece  14  is curved towards the face  8  and the holes  13  and  13 ′ of the corner piece  11  and the side piece  14  respectively, align such that the press stud  12  on the exterior of the face  8  is exposed therethrough. The corner piece  11 ′ is then folded across the face  8 , overlapping part of the corner piece  11 . The hole  13 ″ is aligned with the holes  13  and  13 ′ and exposes the press stud  12  therethrough. In folding the corner piece  11 ′ across the face  8 , the side piece  15  is curved across the face  8 , the mating press stud part provided on the top side of the side piece  15  aligning with the holes  13 ,  13 ′ and  13 ″ such that the press stud parts  12  and  16  meet and can be snapped together, causing the front face  8  and two side faces  14  and  15  to extend upwards from the fold lines  5  of the self supporting base  6 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates the handle piece being folded to provide a leak proof container having a handle capable of supporting the container when the container is filled with food or beverage. The corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ are folded one over the other across the exterior of the face  9 . This creates a leak proof container. The corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ are retained in their folded condition by the folding interaction of the handle piece  3  and the container piece  2 . In this embodiment, the folding interaction is as follows. Starting with the handle in its unfolded condition, the handle piece  3  is folded over the corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″, so that the tongue  21  of the handle piece  3  can be inserted between the folded over corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ and the face  9 . At this stage the unfolded handle  3 , is looped back on itself so that the tongue  21  completes a loop starting and finishing at the top edge of the face  9 . The tongue is retained between the top edge of the face  9  and the fold line  5 ″ by the upper handle piece  18 , the central gripping section  19  and the lower handle piece  20  interacting with the outer surfaces of corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ in position folded across face  9 .  
         [0029]     The application of an inward pinching action by the user to the gripping surfaces  31  enables the three dimensional handle-shape to be formed by causing folding of the handle about the fold lines thereon. The inward pinching action displaces the edge pieces  32  and  33 , so that the gripping surfaces  31  oppose one another and the spine  26  and gripping surfaces  31  create a three dimensional vertical support for the handle. While the handle is in its unfolded condition, the peripheral edge length of the side panels  34  is greater than the vertical distance between the top edge of the face  9  and the edge  5 ″. The pinching action makes the side panels  34  deform causing a reduction in the peripheral edge length of side panels  34 . This reduction in length forces the tongue  21  further between the face  9  and the corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″. The side panels  34  apply a direct pressure upon the corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ because they are in contact therewith. In turn the corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ apply extra force against the tongue  21 , securing it in its folded position against the face  9 . The reduction in length of the side panels  34  causes the three dimensional structure of the handle  3  to be retained, even upon the removal of the pinching force by the user. Retaining of the handle in position is assisted by outward forces exerted thereon by the folded corner piece  11 ″ and  11 ′″ (which are trying to spring outwardly). The opposite inward forces of the handle on the corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ assist in retaining the tongue  21  against the face  9 .  
         [0030]     In an alternative embodiment the face  9  and tongue  21  are provided with mating connection elements, for example press-stud fastenings in order to retain the tongue  21  against the face  9  in its folded position.  
         [0031]     In its folded condition the handle  3  is secured both vertically and horizontally in the plane of the face  9 , thus improving its rigidity. The handle  3  extends along the height between the edge of the face  9  and fold line.  5 ″. The forces applied by the corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ against the tongue  21  secure the tongue  21  and thus the handle both vertically and horizontally in the plane of the face  9 . The handle is thus rigidly secured with respect to the container.  
         [0032]     The handle of the invention provides easier handling and holding of the container. The three dimensional folded handle  3  can easily be grasped by a user applying finger pressure to the gripping surfaces  31 . As the handle is secured both vertically and horizontally in the plane of face  9 , the handle  3  can be securely gripped without fear of spilling the contents of the container. A secure handle is necessary in order to prevent spillage of the contents, particularly when the container is used for carrying hot substances such as tea and coffee. Lack of a secure handle on such a container provokes a number of safety implications, particularly as carrying the container using an unsecured handle may lead to scalding.  
         [0033]     The handle  3  is integral with the container  2 , however, in the folded condition, the handle  3  is not in communication with the interior of the container, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . This provides the advantage that when in use the handle does not contact the contents of the container. This is of particular importance when the container is carrying hot substances. Furthermore, the corner pieces  11 ″ and  11 ′″ when in position folded across the face  9  provide insulation between the container and the handle thereby reducing conduction of heat into the handle.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the fold lines  7 ′ and  7 ″ each extend to a corner of one of the two sides of the dodecagon which are each parallel to one of the two longest opposing fold lines  5  of the rectangular self supporting surface  6 . This forms a front piece  41 . The front piece  41  is provided with press studs  42 . The fold lines  10 ′,  10 ″ and  7 ′,  7 ″ act to define corner pieces  44 .  
         [0035]     Each side piece  14  and  15  is provided with a press stud mating part  40 . Each corner piece  44  is provided with a hole  43  positioned such that when folded across the front of the adjacent side piece  14  or  15 , as the case may be, each hole  43  accommodates the a press-stud  42 . Each press stud mating part  40  is positioned such that, when a corner piece  44 , is folded using the fold lines  7  and  10  towards one of the side pieces  14  or  15 , the hole  43  is aligned with and can accommodate the press stud mating part  40  and the press stud  42 , allowing the press stud  42  and mating part  40  to meet and be snapped together.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a further embodiment in which the container piece  2  is provided with a second handle piece  3 ′ integral with the edge of the dodecagon which defines the edge of the face piece  8 . The corner pieces  11  and  11 ′ are folded towards the face  8  and retained in a folded position by the interaction of the folded handle  3 ′, the face  8  and the folded corner pieces  11  and  11 ′. This provides a two-handled container which removes the need for fastening elements, the exclusion of which may add to the manufacturing expense. In the present embodiment the cup can be manufactured from only a single sheet of material.