Abstract:
A removable sleeve cover may comprise a frusto-conical body, an insulation liner, and a window pocket frame. The frusto-conical body has an inner surface and an outer surface. The interior surface is configured for receiving a liquid container. The insulated liner may be coupled to the inner surface of the body. The window pocket frame may be attached to the outer surface of the removable sleeve cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/296,201 filed on Jan. 19, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a sleeve cover to surround a cup containing liquid, and more specifically, to a reusable insulation sleeve cover having a configuration that facilitates easier handling of a liquid container. 
     Disposable hot beverage cups are customarily used in coffee houses, fast food restaurants, take-out restaurants, concession stands, and the like. These cups are typically manufactured in standard sizes, are conical in shape, and have an open top lip adapted to receive various plastic lids, for example. Paper based coffee cups are often used by the public because they can be recycled and are biodegradable. However, these cups are difficult to handle when they are filled with hot liquid, soup, coffee, or tea. In addition, they can be uncomfortable to handle when they are cold and become slippery due to condensation. 
     As a result of handling issue, many sellers of such hot beverage provide an additional paper sleeve or a second cup, for example, to a buyer. A second cup, a sleeve, and the like is environmentally unsound, adds additional cost to the product, and results in more waste, etc. More specifically, current existing sleeve covers are disposable and made from card board, cloth, or neoprene. They do not have the structural integrity to support the cup. In addition, the existing sleeves do not have a menu or bar code or a magnetic strip that can be used over again to support the user&#39;s favorite drinks. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need for a reusable sleeve cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a removable sleeve cover comprises a frusto-conical body having an inner surface and an outer surface; an insulation liner coupled to the inner surface of the body; and a window pocket frame attached to the outer surface of the removable sleeve cover. 
     In another aspect, a removable sleeve cover comprises a frusto-conical body having an inner surface and an outer surface; an air pocket between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a window pocket frame attached to the outer surface of the removable sleeve cover. 
     In a further aspect, a method for ordering a beverage comprises purchasing a removable cup sleeve holder having an attachable menu card; completing the menu card to indicate the beverage desired to be ordered; and delivering the sleeve holder containing the completed menu card to beverage order filler. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve cover in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the sleeve cover of  FIG. 1  illustrating a mug handle; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the sleeve cover shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating a mounting receptacle; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the sleeve cover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a menu card with a bar code on it; and 
         FIG. 6  is a process flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles, since the scope of the embodiments is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     Broadly, exemplary embodiments provide a reusable beverage cup sleeve cover. More specifically, exemplary embodiments enable a consumer to hold a hot or cold beverage cup comfortably with a reusable beverage cup sleeve. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be a plastic sleeve that can protect the cup from collapsing and an insulated liner that can keep the drink warm for a long period of time. The plastic sleeve may also prevent a cold drink from sweating. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve cover  10  with a cup  30  inserted therein. The cup  30  may be made of paper, paperboard, and the like, and may have a top portion  50  and a bottom portion  52 . The top portion  50  may have a larger diameter than the bottom portion  52 . The cup  30  may further include an outer surface  44  and an inner surface  45 . The inner surface  45  of the cup  30  may be configured to hold beverages. 
     Still in  FIG. 1 , the removable sleeve cover  10  of an embodiment of the present invention may comprise an injected molded body  12  forming an outer surface  16 . The molded body  12  may be made from, for example, plastic, recycled plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel. The body  12  may also include one extending annular lip  34 . The annular lip  34  may be disposed on the top and integrally attached to the outer surface  16  of the removable sleeve cover  10 . An insulation liner  14  may be connected to the inner surface  42  of the body  12  and may also be molded with the body  12 . A window pocket frame  18 , disposed to hold a removable menu card  22  (see  FIG. 5 ), may also be molded with the body  12 . A transparent/clear window screen (not shown) may be inserted into the window pocket frame  18  to cover the menu card  22 . The clear window screen may protect the menu card  22  from getting dirty. A customer&#39;s regular choice of drink may be described and/or encoded on the menu card  22 . 
       FIG. 1  also shows the sleeve cover  10  having a wider open top  48  and a smaller diameter bottom  46 . The sleeve cover  10  may have an inner surface  42  adjacent to the cup outer surface  44 . The sleeve cover  10  may be slid over the bottom portion  52  of the cup  30  and slid upwardly toward the top portion  50  of the cup  30  until the sleeve cover  10  inner surface  42  fully or partially engages the cup  30 . The inner surface  42  may have surface features comprising at least one of the following: a smooth surface, a textured surface, vertical ribs, diagonal ribs, and distributed raised surfaces. In addition, the outer surface  16  may have surface features comprising at least one of the following: a smooth surface, a textured surface, vertical ribs, diagonal ribs, horizontal rib finger grips  99 , and distributed raised surfaces. 
     Still in  FIG. 1 , the horizontal rib finger grips  99 , which may add additional grip to the outer surface  16 , may be made from various materials, such as plastics, silicone rubber, for example. The removable sleeve cover  10  may be made from a material that may be reusable, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe and cleanable. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the sleeve cover  10  with a mug handle  26  secured to the mounting receptacle  24  (also known as a female connector  24 ). The gripping handle  26  may comprise an elongated portion  27 , and a male connector  35 . The gripping handle  26  may define a hand opening  39  through which a user may grip the handle  26  and thereby the sleeve cover  10  which may hold the cup  30 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the sleeve cover  10  without a cup. The mounting receptacle  24  may further include an open area  105 , two slots  101  and  103 . The mounting receptacle  24  may be in different shapes other than rectangular and may have a locking mechanism inside the mounting receptacle  24  so that the male connector  35  of the handle  26  may be attached securely to the mounting receptacle  24 . 
     In operation, the male connector  35  may be slid into the slots  101  and  103  toward the open top  48 . When the male connector  35  and the female connector  24  are fully engaged with each other, the sleeve handle  26  may turn the sleeve cover  10  into a mug style beverage holder. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the open top  48  may have a larger diameter than the open bottom  46 . In another exemplary embodiment, the open top  48  may have substantially the same diameter as the open bottom  46  so that the sleeve cover  10  may be used to hold a bottle or a can. In this embodiment, the bottom  46  may be closed to prevent the bottle or can from sliding through. 
     Still in  FIG. 3 , the outer surface  16  of the sleeve cover  10  may be personalized by printed matter. Such printed matter may be pad printed, molded, screen printed, embossed, a tape application, a sticker application, a label, lithography, micro contact printing, pressure sensitive label printing, and the like. The printed matter may comprise decorative insignia, a personal name, a logo, team information, store information, a coffee shop name, company information, a photo, and a picture. The cup sleeve  10  may protect a consumer from both hot or cold liquids, beverages, soups, and the like. The cup sleeve cover  10  may further provide insulative properties, keeping cold fluids cold and hot fluids hot, for example, as well as providing a non-slip type surface for the user to hold. The sleeve cover  10  may be cast molded, compression molded, injection molded, blow molded, extruded, rotational cast, and the like. 
       FIG. 4  shows a top view of the sleeve cover  10 . The window pocket frame  18  may be disposed at least up to the top of an outwardly extending annular lip  34 . In addition, the handle  26  may be disposed on an opposite side of the sleeve cover  10 , across from the window frame  18 , so that a consumer&#39;s hand may not block the view of menu card  22  inside the window pocket frame  18  when a consumer holds the handle  26 . 
     Still in  FIG. 4 , the inner liner  14  and the outer surface  16  may be in immediate contact with one another. Alternatively, extra insulation material may be inserted between the inner surface insulation liner  14  and the outer surface  16  to increase the insulation properties of the sleeve cover  10 . In a further exemplary embodiment, an air pocket may be disposed between the inner surface  14  and the outer surface  16  to further increase the insulation properties of the sleeve cover  10 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of the menu card  22  with a bar code  32  on it. The menu card  22  may have different options for a customer to choose, for example, decaf, milk, shots, custom, syrup, drink, and notes-options. The customers may check the item they prefer. The menu card  22  may include the bar code  32  for the specific item which the customers choose. The bar code may expedite and provide accuracy of the order. Furthermore, the bar code  32  may be a check out bar code, which may have ability to link to a user&#39;s account to cover the cost of a beverage. The card may have a magnetic strip to allow the customer to load money and pay for their beverage. 
     Still in  FIG. 5 , a computer connected scanner may be able to scan and read the bar code  32  at a drive-up facility or for in-store use. The bar code  32  may also be switched out for another preference if so desired. The menu card  22  may be a dry-erase style, or a check the box style provided by the vendor, or a hand-written order card, or a bar coded order card, etc. In one exemplary embodiment, the bar code  32  may be on the front face as the menu options. Alternatively, the bar code  32  may be on the back of the menu card  22 . The menu card  22  may include a grab tab  13  at one side thereof. The grab tab  13  may assist a user to insert and remove the menu card  22  from the window pocket frame  18 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a process flow diagram  100  illustrating a method of ordering process when a person places an order for a beverage. In step  102 , a customer may purchase a cup holder from a merchant, such as a coffee shop. In step  104 , customers may be provided with information on how to specify their order preferences by using an insert menu with the bar code on it. Customers may place their order and have the order taker fill in the drink description on the menu inserts. In step  106 , once the menus are filled with a customer&#39;s order information, the customer may simply hand the sleeve cover to the order taker and tell him or her what size beverage is preferred. In step  108 , the order taker can hand the sleeve cover  10  to the coffee maker who can make the drink accordingly. In step  110 , if the coffee shop has a computer which allows the scanning of bar codes into the computer, the customer can scan the bar code indoor or via a drive through which may pull up all the drinks of choice. In step  112 , the customer order may be displayed and the customer may confirm the drink of choice from the displayed order. In step  114 , the server may fill the order and place the filled cup in the customer&#39;s sleeve holder. The present method can speed up the customer&#39;s ordering process with accuracy, expediency, and privacy. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relate to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.