CUP WITH A HANDLE THAT CAN BE FOLDED OUT AND BACK

Abstract: The invention refers to a beaker (1), the side of which is provided with a foldable and extendable handle (2). In the invention, the handle consists of a strip (5) of a stiff material, the ends of which comprise an upper and a lower attachment tab (3, 4) attached to the side of the beaker. The attachment tabs (3, 4) are bounded by an upper and a lower, peripherally aligned, flexible joint (6, 7), and are positioned on the side of the beaker in such manner that an outward-facing ear (2) is formed by the strip, which can be pressed upward or downward to lie flat against the beaker when folded inward. The two attachment tabs (3, 4) should preferably be folded downward to serve as thermal insulating devices.

Description: CUP WITH A HANDLE THAT CAN BE FOLDED OUT AND BACK The present invention refers to a beaker, intended primarily as a throwaway container for hot drinks, the side of which is provided with a foldable and extendable handle. Beakers and mugs of this type are already known, these being equipped with a handle in the form of two wings with a central section attached to the side of the container, which wings, in the folded position, are folded flat in opposite directions against the side of the container and, in the extended position, are folded outward towards each other. When the user grips the handle in this position, the wings are pressed together and the beaker, under the weight of its contents, has an undesirable tendency to swing unsteadily backward and forward when lifted, in addition to which the handle opening has sharp edges which dig uncomfortably into the fingers after a time. The purpose of the invention is to provide a beaker with a foldable and extendable handle, which enables the beaker to be gripped safely and securely without the disadvantages associated with the known type. In the invention, this is achieved by providing the beaker with the characteristics described in patent claim 1 below. In the invention, the handle is extended outward by a simple upward or downward movement, forming an ear of the conventional type which is normally seen on beakers and cups, and in which a finger can be inserted in the normal manner to lift the container. The handle consists of a strip of rigid material, the ends of which are attached, one above the other, to the side of the beaker and are each provided with a flexible joint, such as a crease, at each point of attachment. The handle should preferably be provided with at least two, and preferably three, additional flexible joints or creases for the purpose of forming a well-shaped ear which can be pressed upward or downward easily to lie essentially flat against the side of the beaker. In a preferred embodiment, the handle strip is provided with an upper and a lower attachment tab, both of which are folded downward. This feature provides a double thickness of material, affording a certain degree of heat insulation where the fingers rest against the side of the beaker when it is lifted. As stated in patent claim 5, the handle may suitably be attached to the beaker at the highest possible point so that the ear itself is, if possible, located at the same height or immediately above the level of the liquid in the container, which is advantageous if the beaker is filled with a very hot drink. The invention is described in further detail below with reference to the appended drawing, which shows a preferred embodiment of a beaker in accordance with the invention, and on which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the beaker with the ear extended, Figs. 2 and 3 are side views showing, respectively, the beaker with the ear in the folded and extended positions, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the material used to form the ear. The drawing shows a throwaway beaker 1 of paper or plastic, to which a handle 2 with two attachment tabs 3 and 4 are attached in a suitable manner by bonding the attachment tabs 3, 4 to the side of the beaker 1. This has been done with the aid of ultrasonics; however, other methods, such as thermal bonding, may be employed. The handle 2 consists of the material strip 5 shown in Fig. 4, which is made of stiff board and is provided with two creases 6, 7 demarcating the attachment tabs 3 and 4. The strip is also provided with three further creases 8, 9 and 10 located, firstly, so to form the handle 2 in the shape of an ear as illustrated in Fig. 1 and, secondly, to permit the ear to be folded flat as illustrated in Fig. 2 when the attachment tabs 3, 4 are located as shown in Figs. 1-3. The two attachment tabs 3, 4 are folded downward on the beaker; in other words, they are located below the creases 6, 7, enabling the beaker to be lifted in the usual manner, that is by inserting the index finger 11 in the ear and using the middle finger 12 as a support underneath the ear. Since the index finger 11 then rests against the attachment tab 3 and the middle finger against the attachment tab 4, the two tabs provide thermal insulation if the beaker contains a hot drink. The invention is obviously not confined to the embodiment described and illustrated here as an example, but may be modified in many different ways within the framework of the invention concept as defined in the patent claims. Thus, the handle may, as an alternative, be pressed downward to lie flat against the side of the beaker in the folded position. Furthermore, the creases 8, 9, 10 may be omitted since it is possible to form the ear by hand when extending the handle 2.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. Beaker, primarily for hot drinks and for throwaway use, provided with a foldable and extendable handle (2) attached to the side of the beaker, characterised in that the handle consists of a strip (5) of a stiff material, which strip is attached to the side of the beaker (1) by means of an upper and a lower, peripherally aligned, flexible joint (6, 7), forming an ear (2) which can be pressed upward or downward to lie essentially flat against the side of the beaker. 2. Beaker in accordance with patent claim 1, characterised in that the ear (2) formed by the strip (5) is provided with at least two additional flexible joints (8, 10) parallel to the flexible joints (6, 7) attached to the side of the beaker. 3. Beaker in accordance with patent claim 2, characterised in that the additional flexible joints are three in number (8, 9, 10) and are located so that a finger (1 1) can be inserted in the ear (2) formed when the handle is extended. 4. Beaker in accordance with any of patent claims 1-3, characterised in that the strip (5) is provided with an upper and a lower attachment tab (3, 4) demarcated by the upper and lower flexible joints (6, 7). 5. Beaker in accordance with any of patent claims 1-4, characterised in that the ear (2) is attached to the beaker at a height such that its upper, double- folded edge (8) is located beside the lip of the beaker when the handle is folded upward.

Inventors: RIKK HEIKKI, RIKK VIIU, RIKK, HEIKKI, RIKK, VIIU
Applicants: RIKK HEIKKI, RIKK VIIU, SOEDERTAELJE PLASTINDUSTRI HB, RIKK, HEIKKI, RIKK, VIIU
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47G19
IPC codes: B65D3, B65D25