Combination of a cup and a holder

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination (1) of a cup (2) of plastic, for instance polystyrene (PS), and a holder (3) for carrying thereof such that a user can take hold of the holder (3) and thus lift up the whole combination (1), including the cup (2) optionally filled with a drink, which cup has a folded-back mouth rim (4) which is supported by the upper edge (5) of the holder (3). The invention also relates to a holder (3) adapted to form part of the combination (1) according to the invention as well as to a cup (2) adapted to form part of the combination (1) according to the invention.

Description: The invention relates to a combination of a cup of plastic, for instance polystyrene (PS), and a holder for carrying thereof such that a user can take hold of the holder and thus lift up the whole combination, including the cup optionally filled with a drink, which cup has a folded-back mouth rim which is supported by the upper edge of the holder, without further support. Such a combination is for example known from US 3 602 386. WO 82/01813 describes a combination of a cup and a holder. The cup has a folded-back mouth rim. This mouth rim is protruded from the outer surface of the holder, which is less agreeable for a user. According to the prior art, a generally downward narrowing cup is supported in two zones of differing height by a holder. Due to the tapering form of the cup the two said support zones can support the cup in stable manner. The cup is stiffe such that it can extend independendly and with a sufficiently form retention above the upper support zone, also in the case of the use of a hot drink which tends in known manner to soften the plastic material of the cup. Known cups with a content of 0.151 have a weight of about 3.0 - 3.3g. They have a wall thickness of about 0.15mm and a curled mouth rim to eliminate the sharp cutting edge. In order to enable curling of the drinking edge extra material is required at the position. Since the known cups have to be relatively stiff, only polystyrene (PS) is used in practice for the described constructions. This material is readily processed and allows of easy arrangement of a curled edge in the manner indicated. The object of the invention is to provide a combination which at least minimizes the above mentioned disadvantages. In respect of this objective the invention provides a combination of the described type which has the special feature that the holder has on the outer side of its upper edge a circumferential recess into which fits the folded-back mouth rim of the cup, such that the outer surface of the folded-back mouth rim connects smoothly onto the outer surface of the holder. The holder wall has a thickness in the region of said recess such that the user perceives this as agreeable, particularly when compared with the usual cup with the curled edge. The edge according to the invention in accordance with the described variant gives an impression of a certain solidity. The combination according to the invention requires no curling operation to form the mouth rim. The folded-back mouth rim manufactured in one precess run during forming of the cup supports the whole cup and holds it stably in the upper edge of the holder. This cup therefore need satisfy considerably lesser requirements in respect of its own stiffness andmechanical strength than the described known cup. Nor does softening of the plastic material of the cup as a result of a hot drink have any influence on the stability of the combination owing to this construction. The expectation is that the wall thickness of the cup can hereby be reduced by more than 25%. Together with the omission of the necessary curling as further processing, this is a considerable economic advantage. The above mentioned polystyrene can nevertheless still be used for the cup. Because the required standard for the stiffness of the material is considerable lower and the curling operation is omitted, relatively flexible materials can now also be applied for manufacture of the cups. A specific embodiment has the specialfeature that the cup consists of a material having an E-modulus with a value considerably lower than 2.0 GPa, the value for PS. A specific embodiment hereof has the feature that the material is a polyolefin. PE, HDPE and PP can for instance be applied. These are materials having an E-modulus in the order of 1.5 GPa. It is noted that polystyrene can of course also be used. This material has an E-modulus in the order of 2.0 GPa. It is generally noted that the cup according to the invention can be very thin relative to the known, relatively stiff cups. An embodiment in which the cup has a bottom with a concave inner form is perceived as pleasant after the cup has been emptied. The appearance of such an emptied cup is cleaner and more pleasant than the appearance of an emptied known cup, in which one or two drink remnants still remain. The latter described variant preferably has the special feature that the bottom joins smoothly onto the rest of the cup. The holder can be grasped with the hand. Particularly for very hot drinks, for instance coffee and tea, it can be recommended that the holder has a carrying handle. The holders and/or cups can be stackable in per se known manner. The invention further relates to a holder and a cup which are adapted to serve as component of a combination according to the invention. The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings. Herein: figure 1 shows a cross-section through a combination of a holder and a cup in a first embodiment; and figure 2 shows a view corresponding with figure 1 of a variant. Figure 1 shows a combination 1 of a plastic cup 2 and a holder 3 which carries this cup 2. Cup 2 has a folded-back mouth rim 4 which fits into a circumferential recess 5 such that the outer surface 6 of the folded-back mouth rim 4 connects substantially smoothly onto the outer surface 7 of holder 3. Mouth rim 4 thus carries the whole cup 2 without further support. The contact surface between cup 2 and holder 3 has in this embodiment a small conicity of about 1°, whereby a good fitting between cup and holder is ensured. It is noted that the figures are schematic insofar as the wall thicknesses of cup 2 are not necessarily shown to scale for the sake of clarity in the drawings. Cup 2 is manufactured in this embodiment from a relatively flexible material, for instance a polyolefin such as PE, HDPE or PP, but can also consist for instance of PS. Cup 2 has a bottom 8 which is concave on the inside and which joins smoothly onto the rest of the cup. Holder 3 has a substantially cylindrical form and is not provided with a base. This simplifies production and has a cost-saving effect. As will be apparent from figure 1, the holder can also be picked up easily with the hand, particularly in the lower part thereof, in the case a hot drink is present in cup 2. This lower part is in any case not in direct heat-conducting contact with cup 2 so that heating up will remain limited such that the holder can easily be picked up with the hand. The same reference numerals are used where appropriate in figure 2. The combination 9 of figure 2 comprises a holder 10 which differs in two respects from holder 3 according to figure 1. Holder 10 is provided with an integrally formed carrying handle 11 and its shape is different. The wall 12 of holder 10 narrows in downward direction and has a curved shape. Just as holder 3, the holder 10 is rotation symmetrical apart from the handle 11. Attention is drawn to the fact that other forms are also possible. Generally however, rotation symmetrical forms are recommended. The outer surface of holder 10 is designated in figure 2 with the reference numeral 13. The outer surface of the folded-back mouth rim 4 in this embodiment also connects substantially smoothly onto the outer surface 13 of holder 10. In the embodiment of both figure 1 and figure 2 the holder wall 14 has a thickness in the region of circumferential recess 5 such that the user perceives this as a certain sturdiness and solidity. The mouth rim can have a height in the range of 5-25 mm, preferably 10-20 mm. It will be apparent that figures 1 and 2 show only a few random embodiments and that other variants are also applicable within the scope of the invention.

Claims: Combination (19) of a cup (2) of plastic, for instance polystyrene (PS), and a holder (3, 10) for carrying thereof such that a user can take hold of the holder (3, 10) and thus lift up the whole combination, including the cup (2) optionally filled with a drink, which cup (2) has a folded-back mouth rim (4) which is supported by the upper edge of the holder, and which carrier the whole cup without further support, characterized in that the holder (3, 10) has on the outer side (6, 13) of its upper edge a circumferential recess (5) into which fits the folded-back mouth rim (4) of the cup, such that the outer surface (6) of the folded-back mouth rim (4) connects smoothly onto the outer surface (7) of the holder (3). Combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cup (2) consists of a material having an E-modulus with a value considerably lower than 2.0 GPa. Combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the material is a polyolefin. Combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the material is polyethylene (PE). Combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein the material is a high density polyethylene (HDPE). Combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the material is polypropylene (PP). Combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cup (2) has a bottom (8) with a concave inner form. Combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bottom (8) joins smoothly onto the rest of the cup (2). Combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder (10) has a carrying handle (11). Combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact surface between cup and holder has a conicity preferably in the range of about 0.5°-15°. Combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mouth rim has a height in the range of 5-24 mm, preferably 10-20 mm.

Inventors: KLOEZE HENDRIK JAN, KLOEZE, HENDRIK JAN
Applicants: RPC PACKAGING HOLDING B V, RPC PACKAGING HOLDING B. V.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A47G23
IPC codes: A47G23