Cup insulating sleeve flying cylindrical toy attachment

An aerial toy is formed by coupling a ring to an insulating sleeve used with disposable paper cups. The ring is attached to the smaller diameter conical end of the insulator sleeve creating a flying gyroscope. The flight of the toy is protracted due to the airfoil characteristics of the tubular body and is thrown like a football for distance, accuracy, fun and competition.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

I. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to a ring adapted to be fitted on the end of a beverage insulating sleeve. In particular, the ring is designed to attach on the end of a beverage cup insulating sleeve thereby creating an aerial toy with the weighted ring end forward.

II. Description of the Prior Art

Disposable cups are routinely used in coffee shops, fast food and take-out restaurants to contain hot drinks. Such cups are of standardized sizes, normally frustro-conical in shape and having an upwardly open top rim adapted to receive one of several standard sizes of plastic lid. These cups are also generally made from wax-covered paper, paperboard and/or polystyrene. While polystyrene is an excellent thermal insulator, it is not easily recyclable or biodegradable and thus has fallen out of favor. On the other hand, paper and paperboard are easily recyclable and biodegradable but are poor thermal insulators. As a result, because cups made from paper and paperboard materials have relatively thin walls, when they are filled with a hot beverage, such as coffee, tea or soup, they are difficult to handle comfortably due to the elevated temperature of the contents in the paper cup.

In an effort to provide adequate insulation for comfortable handling of a paper cup, and rather than “double-cup” (i.e. use two nested cups instead of a single cup), there have been numerous versions of an insulating sleeve for holding the cup. These sleeves are frequently made from a paperboard blank that is configured to closely embrace the paper cup and protect the user's fingers from high temperatures. These sleeves, while comprising of less material than a second paper cup, are still nevertheless disposable and are typically used as a one-time consumable together with the cup. Accordingly, such sleeves represent a burden on the environment.

Toys, such as model airplanes, kites, boomerangs and Frisbees® have been known for many years. Of more recent popularity, are aerial toys made of simple tubular bodies that can be thrown and whose flight is protracted because the tube exhibits airfoil characteristics. These flying gyroscopes are thrown for distance, accuracy, fun and competition. Typical brand name flying gyroscopes include TooBee® and X-zylo™. These and other brands tend to be somewhat fragile as well as relatively expensive.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present disclosure to provide another use for the generally one-time consumable insulating cup sleeve.

It is a more specific object of the present disclosure to use the insulating cup sleeve as an aerial toy.

It is another specific object of this disclosure to provide a ring in combination with the insulating cup sleeve to form a flying gyroscope toy.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the disclosure will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a ring for use with an insulating cup holder having an open larger diameter conical end and an open smaller diameter conical end to form an aerial toy. The ring is coupled to one of the ends of the sleeve and forms a weighted leading edge for the toy.

There is also provided an aerial toy including an insulating cup holder having an open larger diameter conical end and an open smaller diameter conical end in combination with a weighted ring adopted to couple to one of said ends of said holder.

There is further provided a ring for use with an insulating cup holder having an open larger diameter conical end and an open smaller diameter conical end to form an aerial toy. The ring includes an outer wall and an inner wall defining a channel therebetween for receiving one of said ends of said holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIG. 1a, a typical disposable paper cup10has an open larger diameter conical end12for content pouring and consuming, and a closed smaller diameter conical end14. A typical insulator sleeve20, as shown inFIG. 1b, has an open larger diameter conical end22and an open smaller diameter conical end24.FIG. 1cshows the typical usage of the insulator sleeve20over the paper cup10.

As shown inFIGS. 2a-2c, a conventional insulating cup holder30is typically formed from a paperboard blank32, having a first end34and a second end36, together with an arcuate top edge38and an arcuate bottom edge40. The paperboard can have a smooth surface42and a corrugated surface44, two smooth surfaces or two corrugated surfaces. When the ends34,36have been adhered together, the blank may be folded for storage and shipping; seeFIGS. 2band2c. Conversely, when the blank is formed into an assembled configuration, the holder forms a tapered sleeve that may be positioned about a tapered container; seeFIGS. 1band1c.

The ring50is adapted to slip-fit onto one of the conical ends22,24of the sleeve. For example, the ring is fitted on the smaller diameter conical end24of the insulator sleeve20as shown in an enlarged perspective view inFIG. 3. This rim, band, circlet or ring50is preferably made of a pliable plastic rubber material that is in the shape of a circle from a perpendicular view, and the shape of a “U” from a cross-sectional view. The ring50is preferably 2½ to 3¼ in diameter52and ½ to 1½ tall on the outside perimeter54. Accordingly, the ring50is dimensioned so as to be fitted around the end of a standard sized insulating sleeve, but can be customarily sized as necessary. The outside perimeter54can be adaptable to receive print and/or the ability to receive so-called dry erase markings.

Referring toFIG. 4in conjunction withFIG. 3, the “U” shape56is formed where the outer wall58and the inner wall60meet at the leading edge62of the ring50. It is the channel64between the walls that receives the smaller diameter conical end24of the insulator sleeve20. The inside surface66of the outer wall58includes a plurality of protrusions68for retaining the sleeve20within the channel64of the ring50. The outside surface70of the inside wall60can be tapered towards the center72of the ring50away from the leading edge62. It is the size of the inner wall and/or the taper that will aid in the airfoil characteristics of the toy by minimizing any wind resistance issues that may be caused by a corrugated inside surface of the insulator sleeve20.

While an embodiment describing a “U” shaped circlet has been shown and described, it will be appreciated that other forms of a weighted leading edge ringlet are envisioned. For example, other means of coupling the weighted ring to the leading edge of the sleeve can be used. Such coupling can be to the inside surface of the sleeve, the outside surface, or both. So long as the ring is adapted to receive a conical end the insulator sleeve to improve the flying characteristics of the sleeve/ring aerial toy combination.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the aerial toy80is formed when the insulator sleeve20is coupled to the ring50. The toy80is picked up like a can and thrown like a football with the weighted ring end forward and spiraling. The thin walled sleeve20provides the lift and the directional stability of the toy80, while the stronger ring50provides the structural strength and improves the flying characteristics of the toy80. Air flow is improved by the high and/or tapered inside wall60and ensures a uniform flight regardless of any corrugated surfaces of the sleeve20.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom. Accordingly, while one or more particular embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the disclosure if its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover ail such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.