Abstract:
A cup made of a paper material and having a fillable interior formed by a conical tubular wall and a bottom wall is provided. The bottom wall is joined at a bottom end of the interior to a peripheral edge frame of the tubular wall in a substantially liquid-tight manner. The tubular wall has a peripheral deforming entity around at least part of a perimeter, which peripheral deforming entity is reinforced in order to avoid deformation of the paper cup.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2010 013 951.3, filed Mar. 30, 2010, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/343 880, filed May 5, 2010. The disclosures of these prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in the entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a cup made of paper material and having a fillable interior comprising a tubular wall that is at least partially conical, and a bottom wall that is joined to the tubular wall at the bottom end of its interior in a substantially liquid-tight manner, and the tubular wall delimiting the interior comprises at least one peripheral deforming entity. The invention also relates to a method for the production of a cup made of paper material. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Cups made of paper material and comprising a peripheral deforming entity on the tubular wall are known in the prior art. Such deforming entities are provided, for example, for improving the stacking properties and the feel of such cups or also for maintaining a distance between an outer sleeve and a tubular wall so that an insulating space between the outer sleeve and the tubular wall is not compressed even when a full cup is held in the hand. 
         [0004]    A generic cup is disclosed in European Patent EP 1 227 042. The aforementioned document describes a heat-insulating cup formed by two conical walls, the inner wall comprising an inwardly oriented groove that serves for stacking a cup of a similar type inside another cup in the stack. The inwardly oriented groove produced by a roll-in process is intended to impart effective stacking and unstacking properties to the cup without the possibility of a plurality of stacked cups becoming jammed inside each other. Experience has shown that the disclosed cup exhibits satisfactory properties that enable up to approximately 20 cups to be stacked. If substantially more cups are stacked, they become jammed inside each other. In particular, such cases of the stacked cups becoming jammed inside each other are caused by axial pressure that is directed from the open end of the cup to the bottom wall thereof as a result of the dead weight of the cups when a large number of cups are stacked together. The cups can become jammed inside each other even when a stack of 50 packed cups is put down with moderate force. Insufficient rigidity of the groove must be considered as the cause of the cups becoming jammed inside each other, but this insufficient rigidity cannot be improved on with this fabrication method, since the roll-in process to produce the groove reduces the strength of the material. 
         [0005]    A cup having improved stacking properties over that mentioned above is described in German patent application DE 10 2004056032 A1, but this application again does not propose a satisfactory solution to the problem of the cups becoming jammed inside each other due to deformation of the tubular wall of the cup in the region of the peripheral deforming entity. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cup made of paper material and an improved method for the production of a cup made of paper material. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, a cup made of paper material is provided for this purpose, which cup has a fillable interior comprising an at least partially conical tubular wall and a bottom wall that is joined to the tubular wall at the bottom end of the interior of the cup in a substantially liquid-tight manner, and the tubular wall delimiting the interior comprises at least one peripheral deforming entity, and a reinforcement for stabilizing the peripheral deforming entity is disposed in the region of the at least one peripheral deforming entity. 
         [0008]    It has been observed, surprisingly, that a reinforcement in the region of the peripheral deforming entity can substantially improve the performance characteristics of cups made of paper material. Thus it has been established that these deforming entities that can be provided on the cup for various purposes can themselves become deformed under load to such an extent that they can no longer perform the task intended for them, namely that of enabling a plurality of cups to be stacked reliably or of maintaining a distance between the outer sleeve and the tubular wall. Surprisingly, deformation of the peripheral deforming entity occurs even though there are in fact no excessive forces actually acting on the cups made of paper materials. For example, in a stack containing a plurality of paper cups, it is only the weight of each upper cup that acts on the lower cup. By providing a reinforcement, it can be ensured that the shape of the peripheral deforming entity is not altered substantially even under load or that the shape of the peripheral deforming entity is altered only to such an extent that the peripheral deforming entity can still perform the task intended. 
         [0009]    In a development of the invention, the reinforcement is in the form of a coating applied to the tubular wall. 
         [0010]    For example, the reinforcement can be in the form of a coating of plastics material that is sprayed, in particular, onto the periphery of the tubular wall in the region of the peripheral deforming entity in certain parts thereof. The paper material of which paper cups are made is usually coated, for example with plastics material, on an interior surface that comes into contact with liquid. An additional coating can then be applied in the region of the peripheral deforming entity in order to stabilize the peripheral deforming entity following the production of the same. 
         [0011]    In a development of the invention, the reinforcement is in the form of an adhesive fillet applied to the tubular wall. 
         [0012]    It has been observed, surprisingly, that a very substantial reinforcement of the peripheral deforming entity on the tubular wall can be achieved by the simple application of an adhesive fillet. The application of an adhesive fillet is particularly simple, since the bottom wall and the tubular wall and optionally an outer sleeve of the cup are in any case joined to each other by means of adhesive. The additional application of an adhesive fillet in the region of the peripheral deforming entity thus requires no other devices than those included in conventional apparatus for the production of cups. For the purposes of the invention, the term ‘adhesive’ refers to glue, hot-melt adhesive, plastics adhesive, and the like. 
         [0013]    In a development of the invention, the adhesive fillet for stabilizing the peripheral deforming entity is applied over the entire periphery of the tubular wall. 
         [0014]    In this way, the peripheral deforming entity can be simply stabilized over the entire circumference of the tubular wall, and the adhesive fillet can also be applied without giving rise to problems, since it is in any case necessary to establish a liquid-tight connection, for example, when joining the bottom wall of the cup to the tubular wall around the entire circumference of the cup. Advantageously, the adhesive fillet is positioned at a constant level around the entire circumference of the tubular wall. Depending on the type of peripheral deforming entity and the type of adhesive used, it can be advantageous when the adhesive fillet is disposed on that side of the tubular wall that is remote from the interior of the cup. In this way, the adhesive fillet can be completely hidden from view in a double-walled insulated cup, since the adhesive fillet is located between the insulating outer sleeve and the tubular wall accommodating the liquid in the finished state of the cup. 
         [0015]    In a development of the invention, an outer sleeve is provided that is joined to the tubular wall and/or the bottom wall by means of the adhesive fillet. 
         [0016]    Double-walled insulated cups comprise an outer sleeve that can be slid over the actual cup or placed around the same. The adhesive fillet for stabilizing the peripheral deforming entity can at the same time be used for joining the outer sleeve, for example at the bottom end thereof, to the tubular wall or to the bottom wall of the cup. In this way, the adhesive applied can perform a double function, namely that of stabilizing the peripheral deforming entity, on the one hand, and of securely attaching the outer sleeve on the other. 
         [0017]    In a development of the invention, the reinforcement is in the form of a separate reinforcing component, more particularly a reinforcing ring. 
         [0018]    The peripheral deforming entity can be stabilized on the tubular wall by the provision of a separate reinforcing component. Advantageously, the reinforcing component is configured to match that region of the peripheral deforming entity that requires reinforcement. The reinforcing component can be made, for example, of plastics material and can be in the form of a ring of plastics material, for example. A ring of such type can be slid over the external surface of the tubular wall, or alternatively inserted into the interior of the cup, and secured in the region of the peripheral deforming entity. When the reinforcing component is placed in the interior of the cup, this reinforcing component can also be used for attaching additional components that do not directly form part of the cup, such as a lid or a component comprising a filling orifice, provided that the reinforcing component is disposed in the region of the open end of the cup. For example, a part of an insulating outer sleeve that is positioned to form a ring around the inner cup in the region of the peripheral deforming entity and that is additionally glued to the inner cup can also serve as a separate reinforcing component. 
         [0019]    In a development of the invention, the peripheral deforming entity is in the form of a means for supporting a cup of a similar type in the stacked state of a plurality of cups. 
         [0020]    For example, the peripheral deforming entity is in the form of a reentrant heel-shaped shoulder extending into the interior of the cup or a groove having an approximately semicircular cross-section. 
         [0021]    In a development of the invention, the bottom wall and the tubular wall form a peripheral edge frame in the region of the liquid-tight joint, the peripheral deforming entity being in the form of means for supporting the peripheral edge frame of another cup of a similar type in the stacked state of a plurality of cups. 
         [0022]    The provision of a reinforcement in the region of the peripheral deforming entity has proved to be particularly advantageous in such an embodiment of the peripheral deforming entity, that is to say, a peripheral deforming entity in the form of a support for the peripheral edge frame of another cup. The peripheral deforming entity can be reinforced very simply by the application of an adhesive fillet, and it has been found, surprisingly, that the peripheral deforming entity can withstand even very large stacking loads when provided with reinforcement. In the cup of the invention, there is no fear of a plurality of cups becoming jammed inside each other, not even in a stack containing a very large number of cups. 
         [0023]    In a development of the invention, the cup comprises an outer sleeve that surrounds the tubular wall at least in part, the peripheral deforming entity being in the form of a means for supporting the outer sleeve of a cup of a similar type in the stacked state of a plurality of cups. 
         [0024]    For example, the cups are stacked by means of the peripheral deforming entity disposed on the tubular wall and by means of the peripheral edge frame of the outer sleeve. In this case also, reinforcement in the region of the peripheral deforming entity can substantially improve the stacking properties of such cups. 
         [0025]    In a development of the invention, the peripheral deforming entity represents a constriction, at least in certain regions, in the cross-section of the interior, when viewed from the open end of the cup in the direction of the bottom wall, the reinforcement being disposed directly downstream of the region of constricted cross-section. 
         [0026]    In this way, particularly when the peripheral deforming entity is provided in the form of means for supporting cups of a similar type when stacking a plurality of cups, the reinforcement can prevent the peripheral deforming entity from losing its shape in the loaded state and thus causing the stacked cups to become jammed inside each other. As a result of the reinforcement being disposed directly downstream of the region of constricted cross-section, the peripheral deforming entity will be deformed in such a way, at most, that the stacked upper cup outwardly presses that portion of the tubular wall of the underlying cup that is located above the area of constricted cross-section, but the stacked upper cup will not slide down below that region of the underlying cup that has a constricted cross-section, which would otherwise inevitably cause the stacked cups to become jammed inside each other. 
         [0027]    In a development of the invention, the reinforcement rests against that portion of the peripheral deforming entity that forms the reduction of cross-section on the external surface of the tubular wall that is remote from its interior. 
         [0028]    In this way, an adhesive fillet, a separate reinforcing component, or a reinforcement applied in the form of a coating enables the tubular wall of the cup to be reinforced precisely in that region which is exposed to the largest deformation forces in the stacked state of a plurality of cups. 
         [0029]    The object of the invention is also achieved by a method for the production of a cup made of paper material, which method includes the following steps:
       joining a conical or cylindrical tubular wall to the bottom wall of a cup in a substantially liquid-tight manner,   incorporating at least one peripheral deforming entity in the tubular wall, and   providing a reinforcement in the region of the at least one peripheral deforming entity for stabilizing the at least one peripheral deforming entity.       
 
         [0033]    The method of the invention enables a peripheral deforming entity disposed in the tubular wall to be reinforced in a very simple manner. For the purpose of providing the reinforcement, it is merely necessary to apply additional material to the paper material of the cup. Unlike injection-molded cups of plastics materials, it is extremely problematic to provide reinforcements on paper cups, which, of course, are of a continuous, substantially constant material thickness. The invention solves this problem in that a reinforcement is provided in the region of the at least one peripheral deforming entity following the production of the peripheral deforming entity in the tubular wall. 
         [0034]    In a development of the invention, the reinforcement is provided on that external surface of the tubular wall that is remote from the interior of the cup. 
         [0035]    In this way, the interior of the cup that comes into contact with liquid remains unaffected by the application of the reinforcement so that, if need be, the reinforcement can be composed, for example, of material that should not come into contact with the liquid for extended periods of time. 
         [0036]    In a development of the invention, an adhesive fillet is applied in the region of the peripheral deforming entity in order to stabilize the at least one peripheral deforming entity. 
         [0037]    A particularly effective and particularly simple reinforcement can be achieved by the application of an adhesive fillet. As a rule, an application of adhesive is required in any case for joining the tubular wall to the bottom wall, for the production of a conical component from the paper blank to form the tubular wall and also for attaching the outer sleeve. Thus, the method of the invention makes it possible to use conventional apparatus for the production of paper cups for the application of an additional adhesive fillet in the region of the peripheral deforming entity to stabilize the peripheral deforming entity. 
         [0038]    The stacking and unstacking properties of cups are substantially improved by the invention. In particular, it is possible to stack substantially more cups than in the prior art, and these do not become jammed inside each other, not even when a stack containing a large number of stacked cups is dropped abruptly or when a large axial thrust acts on the stacked cups in some other way, as is possible when loading a cup magazine, for example. 
         [0039]    The cup might be deformed and lose its circular shape due to application of a peripheral deforming entity, but this is likewise prevented by the invention. 
         [0040]    According to the invention, the peripheral deforming entity is reinforced by the purposeful application of a coating, preferably a hot-melt adhesive customarily used in this field. Furthermore, the peripheral deforming entity of the tubular wall of the cup can be reinforced by means of a component that is in the form of a ring, for example, which preferably already has the shape of the peripheral deforming entity. A component of this type is preferably made of plastics material or paper. The location at which this ring is attached to the tubular wall of the cup is not relevant in this context regarding the question as to whether or not this ring is located on the inside or outside of the tubular wall of the cup. 
         [0041]    The disadvantage of the cup disclosed in EP 1 227 042 B1 is that the forces occurring when stacking the cups are absorbed by means of the tubular wall delimiting the interior of the cup and by means of the outer sleeve. The forces that are derived from the first supporting means and that have to be absorbed inside the cup by the second supporting means are initially absorbed by way of the tubular wall delimiting the interior by the joint between the inner tubular wall and the outer sleeve, and are then absorbed by way of this joint by the outer sleeve. In the outer sleeve, the forces are then absorbed by the second supporting means that is in the form of a roll-in entity, and are absorbed at this point by the next cup. As a result, both the tubular wall and the outer sleeve have to be configured so as to be strong enough to resist the resultant forces. Furthermore, the joint between the outer sleeve and the tubular wall must also be designed so as to withstand the maximum forces occurring. 
         [0042]    The freedom of design of the cup disclosed in EP 1 227 042 B1 is detrimentally restricted, since the second supporting means attached to the outer sleeve must always match the dimensions of the first means for supporting another cup of a similar type and be capable of absorbing the relevant forces. It is not possible to provide the outer sleeve with an arbitrary shape or to alter its shape as desired. Furthermore, it is not possible to dispense with the outer sleeve, if need be, without losing the effective stacking properties of the cup. 
         [0043]    The stackable cup is preferably produced by means of a method including the following steps:
       shaping at least a first means for supporting another cup of a similar type on the tubular wall delimiting the interior;   shaping a second supporting means on the peripheral edge frame, which second supporting means can cooperate, when the cups are stacked, with a first supporting means attached to another cup of similar type.       
 
         [0046]    The second supporting means is disposed on the tubular wall delimiting the interior or on the bottom wall or on a joint that joins the tubular wall delimiting the interior to the bottom wall. In any case, the second supporting means is attached to a component of the cup that is in contact with the fillable interior. 
         [0047]    The advantage of the cup of the invention is that it can be stacked in a secure and stable manner with or without an outer sleeve and also unstacked without the cups becoming jammed inside each other, and it is possible to provide the cup with a heat-insulating outer sleeve. 
         [0048]    The tubular wall delimiting the interior and the bottom wall are in any case strong enough to resist the forces occurring when stacking the cups, since they are also required to resist the forces occurring when filling the cups. 
         [0049]    In order to prevent a plurality of cups from becoming jammed inside each other when stacking the same, it is advantageous when the dimensions of the second supporting means match those of the first means for supporting another cup of a similar type. The first means for supporting another cup of a similar type can in fact be arbitrarily shaped. The important factor is that the first means should have a contour that can resist the forces acting in the axial direction of the cup, that is to say, forces acting between two cups during the stacking process. The first supporting means is preferably in the form of a bead or a groove that is produced at least in a region around the circumference of the cup in the tubular wall delimiting its interior. The bead or groove can be shaped so as to extend continuously or discontinuously around the circumference of the cup. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment of the invention, a heat-insulating outer sleeve is provided for the cup, the design of the heat-insulating outer sleeve being arbitrary as such. For example, the outer sleeve can be made of a plastics material, of paper, or of composite material. For improving the insulating properties, the outer sleeve may be corrugated, ribbed, or embossed, or it can be provided with a foam layer. The outer sleeve can alternatively be in the form of a multilayered component. For example, it can comprise a corrugated intermediate layer that is covered by an outer layer in flat contact therewith. By virtue of the fact that the cup of the invention can be stacked irrespective of the outer sleeve, it is possible to combine one and the same inner cup in a simple and almost arbitrary manner with a wide variety of outer sleeves. Without altering the shape and dimensions of the inner cup and the components forming the fillable interior, it is possible to produce different cups having variable optical and haptical properties, since the appearance of the cup as registered by the user is mainly determined by the design of the outer sleeve. 
         [0051]    Furthermore, the bottom roll-in end of the outer sleeve shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   d  can also be used as an additional reinforcing element for the peripheral deforming entity. 
         [0052]    Furthermore, a ring that is preferably made of plastics material is provided according to the invention for reinforcing the peripheral deforming entity. 
         [0053]    This ring can have the shape of the region of the peripheral deforming entity that requires support. Furthermore, the peripheral deforming entity itself can be produced, according to the invention, with the aid of the ring, this ring being pressed into the tubular wall of the cup. 
         [0054]    The ring should preferably be glued to the tubular wall of the cup in cases where the forces occurring when the ring is pressed into the tubular wall of the cup are not sufficient to fix the ring permanently. 
         [0055]    Additional features and advantages of the invention are revealed in the claims and in the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings. Individual features of the various embodiments shown can be combined as required without going beyond the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0056]    In the drawings: 
           [0057]      FIG. 1  is a view of a longitudinal cross-section of a cup of the invention according to a first embodiment, 
           [0058]      FIG. 2  is a view of a longitudinal cross-section of two stacked cups of the invention according to a second embodiment, 
           [0059]      FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d  are partial views of longitudinal cross-sections of any two cups of the invention according to a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiment, 
           [0060]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of a longitudinal cross-section of a cup of the invention according to a seventh embodiment, 
           [0061]      FIG. 5  is a partial view of a longitudinal section of a cup of the invention according to an eighth embodiment, 
           [0062]      FIG. 6  is a partial view of a longitudinal cross-section of a cup of the invention according to a ninth embodiment, in which a device shown here in the form of a ring is fitted from outside to the tubular wall of the cup for reinforcing the peripheral deforming entity, and 
           [0063]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are partial views of longitudinal cross-sections of the cup of the invention according to tenth and eleventh embodiment respectively, in which a device shown here in the form of a ring is fitted from inside to the tubular wall of the cup for reinforcing the peripheral deforming entity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0064]      FIG. 1  illustrates a double-walled heat-insulating cup  10  comprising an inner cup  12  and an outer. sleeve  14 . The inner cup  12  consists of a substantially conical tubular wall  16  and a bottom wall  18 , the tubular wall  16  and the bottom wall  18  being joined to each other in a liquid-tight manner to form a peripheral edge frame  20 . The peripheral edge frame  20  is formed by a U-shaped fold of the tubular wall  16 , into which an approximately right-angled edge of the pot-shaped bottom wall  18  has been inserted. Following the insertion of the edge, the peripheral edge frame  20  is completed by gluing, pressing, and/or sealing the tubular wall  16  to the bottom wall  18 . 
         [0065]    The outer sleeve  14  is slid on like a casing and it likewise has a conical shape. The bottom end of the outer sleeve  14  is in the form of a lower bead  22 . The lower bead  22  of the outer sleeve  14  rests against the inner cup  12  below the horizontal portion of the bottom wall  18 . The top end of the outer sleeve  14  rests against the inner cup  12  so as to adjoin a mouth bead  24  that forms the top end of the cup  10 . 
         [0066]    A peripheral deforming or deformed entity in the form of a heel-shaped shoulder  26  extending into the interior of the inner cup  12  is provided on the tubular wall  16  of the inner cup  12  approximately at the level of a quarter of the vertical dimension of the interior of the inner cup  12 . The shoulder  26  is formed by an abrupt reduction in the diameter of the interior as viewed from the open end of the cup  10  defined by the mouth bead  24  toward the bottom wall  18 , in that the tubular wall  16  is bent approximately horizontally toward a longitudinal center axis  28  of the cup. The tubular wall  16  then extends parallel to the longitudinal center axis  28  over a portion thereof to again assume a conical shape over a final portion reaching down to the bottom end of the cup  10 . The shoulder  26  thus protrudes into the interior of the cup  10 . For stabilizing the peripheral deforming entity in the form of the shoulder  26 , an adhesive bead or an adhesive fillet  30  is provided that is disposed below the approximately horizontal portion of the shoulder  26  on the external surface of the tubular wall  16 . The adhesive fillet  30  thus does not come into contact with a liquid filling the interior of the cup  10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the adhesive fillet  30  is introduced into the approximately right-angled cavity formed by the heel-shaped shoulder  26  on the external surface of the tubular wall  16  remote from its interior. 
         [0067]    The shoulder  26  is provided as a means for supporting a cup of a similar type when a number of cups are stacked together. More specifically, the lower bead  22  of another cup of a similar type is supported on the shoulder  26  when two cups are stacked. The adhesive fillet  30  reinforces the peripheral deforming entity in the form of the shoulder  26  even in the case of heavy loads. The adhesive fillet also prevents the cups from becoming jammed inside each other when numerous cups are stacked together or when a stack of cups is dropped down abruptly. 
         [0068]      FIG. 2  illustrates a longitudinal cross-section of two stacked cups  32   a,    32   b  according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. The cups  32   a,    32   b  are stacked into each other and are each in the form of a single-walled cup. However, it is readily possible to provide both cups  32   a,    32   b  with an insulating outer sleeve in the manner of the outer sleeve shown in  FIG. 1 , since there is again sufficient space between the two cups  32   a ,  32   b  in the stacked state. 
         [0069]    As can be seen  FIG. 2 , a tubular wall  34  of the cups  32   a,    32   b  is provided in the region of its lower half with a peripheral deforming entity  36  in the form of a heel-shaped shoulder protruding into the interior. The tubular wall  34  and a bottom wall  38  of each cup  32   a,    32   b  are joined to each other in a liquid-tight manner to form a peripheral edge frame  40 . The peripheral edge frame  40  is flared outwardly so as to form a truncated cone. In the stacked state of the two cups  32   a,    32   b,  the bottom edge of the cup and thus the lower, free end of the peripheral edge frame  40  rests on the peripheral deforming entity  36 . In order to reinforce this peripheral deforming entity  36 , an adhesive fillet  42  is applied to an external surface of the tubular wall  34  in the region of the cavity formed by the peripheral deforming entity  36 . The adhesive fillet  42  is applied around the entire circumference of the tubular wall  34 . The adhesive fillet  42  reinforces the peripheral deforming entity  36  to the effect that the heel-shaped peripheral deforming entity  36  of the lower cup may possibly be deformed when strong pressure is applied to the upper cup  32   a,  but the lower cup  32   b  will at all events be prevented from expanding in the region of the peripheral deforming entity  36  and from allowing the upper cup  32   a  to then slide further down into the lower cup  32   b.  Rather, the shoulder-shaped peripheral deforming entity  36  will at most be deformed in such a way that the portion on which the peripheral edge frame  40  of the upper cup  32   a  rests will bend into the horizontal. There is no fear of the two cups  32   a,    32   b  becoming jammed inside each other. 
         [0070]    The peripheral deforming entity  36  is in the form of a shoulder and it thus represents a reduction in the cross-section of the tubular wall  34 . The constriction  36  can thus absorb forces that act toward the center axis  28  of the cup; that is, forces acting when the cups  32   a,    32   b  are stacked. The constriction  36  is in the form of a shoulder and it extends into the interior of the cup. The peripheral edge frame  40 , at which the tubular wall  34  delimiting the interior of the cup is folded around the pot-shaped, deep-drawn bottom wall  38  and to which the tubular wall  34  is sealed in a liquid-tight manner, is outwardly expanded and thus represents means for supporting a cup of a similar type, which cooperates with the shoulder-shaped constriction  36  when two cups  32   a,    32   b  are stacked. 
         [0071]      FIG. 3   a  illustrates a partial view of a longitudinal cross-section of two stacked cups  46   a,    46   b  according to a further embodiment of the invention. The inner cup  46   a  of the cups  46   a,    46   b  are each provided with a peripheral deforming entity in the form of a shoulder  50  protruding into the interior. An adhesive fillet  52  for stabilizing the shoulder  50  is provided on an external surface of the tubular wall  48  in the cavity formed by the shoulder  50 . An outer sleeve  54  of the cups  46   a,    46   b  is folded in its lower region through 180°, and the folded free end is then in turn bent toward the inner cup  46   a  to rest against the adhesive fillet  52 . In this way, the adhesive fillet  52  can perform a double function in that it not only stabilizes the shoulder  50  but also ensures that the outer sleeve  54  is securely joined to the tubular wall  48  of the inner cup  46   a  since the free end of the outer sleeve  54  is adhesively joined to the tubular wall  48  by the adhesive fillet  52 . Alternatively, there is no adhesive joint and the free end of the outer sleeve  54  only rests against the adhesive fillet. In the embodiment shown, the outer sleeve  54  rests against the tubular wall  48  below the bottom wall and, via its folded end, against the adhesive fillet  52 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 3   b  illustrates a partial view of a longitudinal cross-section of two stacked cups  56   a,    56   b  of the invention according to a further embodiment of the invention. This differs from the cups  46   a,    46   b  shown in  FIG. 3   a  only in that the fold of the outer sleeve  58  of each cup is shaped differently. The bottom end of the outer sleeve  58  is folded through 180°, and this fold is not flattened, but is instead bulged around a small diameter. The folded free end is then again bent toward the inner cup  56   a  to rest against the adhesive fillet  52 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 3   c  shows a partial view of a longitudinal cross-section of two stacked cups  60   a,    60   b  of the invention. The cups  60   a,    60   b  differ from those shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  merely in terms of the shape of the bottom end of the respective outer sleeve  62 . The outer sleeve  62  is folded at its bottom end and bent slightly in toward the inside so that the bottom end of the outer sleeve  62  rests, below the bottom wall of the cups  60   a,    60   b,  against the peripheral edge frame by means of which the tubular wall and the bottom wall are joined to each other in a liquid-tight manner. The folded portion of the bottom end of the outer sleeve  62  is flattened so that the folded portion also rests with its entire surface against the internal surface of the outer sleeve  62 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 3   d  shows a longitudinal cross-section of two further cups  64   a,    64   b  of the invention. The cups  64   a,    64   b  differ from those shown in  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c  merely in terms of the shape of the lower end of the outer sleeve  66 . The outer sleeve  66  is folded at its bottom end by slightly less than 180° such that the folded portion of the outer sleeve  66  rests flat against the external surface of the tubular wall of the cups  64   a,    64   b.  The folded portion  68  of the outer sleeve  66  thus forms a ring that rests, below the peripheral deforming entity  70 , on the external surface of the tubular wall. The end of the folded portion  68  extends up to the peripheral deforming entity  70 , and the top edge of the folded portion  68  rests against the adhesive fillet  72 . By folding the outer sleeve  66 , an additional separate reinforcement is thus achieved, by means of which the constriction  70  and that section  73  of the cup that is located between the constriction  70  and the bottom wall can be reinforced. 
         [0075]      FIG. 4  shows a partial view of a longitudinal cross-section of a further cup  74  of the invention. The cup  74  comprises an inner cup comprising a tubular wall  76  and an insulating outer sleeve  78 . The tubular wall  76  is provided with a peripheral deforming entity  82  below a mouth bead  80 , the peripheral deforming entity  82  being in the form of a bead or a groove extending outwardly away from the interior of the cup  74 . The peripheral deforming entity  82  serves to ensure a precisely defined distance between the outer sleeve  78  and the tubular wall  76  and thus provide satisfactory insulating properties. The peripheral deforming entity  82  is reinforced by means of an adhesive fillet  84  disposed below the peripheral deforming entity  82  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and the adhesive fillet  84  adjoins the bottom portion of the peripheral deforming entity  82 . As can be seen from the figure, the adhesive fillet  84  stabilizes the peripheral deforming entity  82 , on the one hand, and at the same time adhesively joins the outer sleeve  78  to the tubular wall  76 , on the other. 
         [0076]      FIG. 5  shows another cup  86  of the invention according to a further embodiment of the invention. The cup  86  comprises an inner cup comprising a tubular wall  88  and a bottom wall  90  that are joined to each other in a liquid-tight manner in the region of a downwardly flared peripheral edge frame. Furthermore, the cup  86  comprises an insulating outer sleeve  92  that rests against the tubular wall  88  below the horizontally extending portion of the bottom wall  90 . The bottom end of the outer sleeve  92  is used for stacking the cup  86  in that the bottom end of the outer sleeve  92  rests against a bead-shaped or groove-shaped peripheral deforming entity  94  in the tubular wall  88  in the stacked state of two cups. The peripheral deforming entity  94  is approximately in the form of a semicircle or an arc of a circle and it extends into the interior of the cup  86 . The peripheral deforming entity  94  is formed, for example, by means of a roller moving around a periphery of the tubular wall. In order to stabilize the peripheral deforming entity  94 , the indentation formed by the peripheral deforming entity  94  on the external surface of the tubular wall  88  is filled out by an adhesive fillet  96 . The adhesive fillet  96  thus stabilizes the peripheral deforming entity  94  so that the outer sleeve  92  cannot slide beyond the peripheral deforming entity  94  when the cups are stacked. In this way, several cups can be stacked without any fear of them becoming jammed inside each other. 
         [0077]      FIG. 6  shows a further cup  98  of the invention in a partial longitudinal cross-section. The cup  98  comprises an inner cup comprising a tubular wall  100  and a bottom wall  102  that are joined to each other in a liquid-tight manner to form a flared peripheral edge frame  104 . The bottom wall  102  is as a whole in the form of an inverted pot, and a folded edge thereof is inserted into a U-shaped fold of the tubular wall  100  such that the circumferential peripheral edge frame  104  is formed. The frame  104  is conical and it flares out toward the bottom end of the cup  98 . The tubular wall  100  is provided with a peripheral deforming entity in the form of a reentrant shoulder  106 , which abruptly reduces the inside diameter of the cup  98 . In the stacked state of a plurality of cups, the lower end of the peripheral edge frame  104  bears on the shoulder  106 . 
         [0078]    In order to stabilize the shoulder  106 , a reinforcing ring  108  made of plastics material is provided below the shoulder  106 , which reinforcing ring  108  is slid over an external surface of the tubular wall  100  to rest against the underside of the shoulder  106 . The reinforcing ring  108  remains on the tubular wall  100  in the finished state of the cup  98 . After the reinforcing ring  108  has been slid into position, an insulating outer sleeve  110  can be slid onto the inner cup and attached to the same. 
         [0079]      FIG. 7   a  shows a further cup  112  of the invention that is provided with a tubular wall  114  and a bottom wall  116 . The tubular wall  114  is provided with a groove-shaped peripheral deforming entity  118  that protrudes into the interior of the cup  112 . For stabilizing the peripheral deforming entity  118 , a plastic ring  120  is provided that is inserted from the top into the interior of the cup  112  to rest against the upper portion of the peripheral deforming entity  118 . The plastic ring  120  can be used, for example, to make it possible to stack a plurality of cups. The plastic ring  120  can also be used, for example, to accommodate additional components that are not directly part of the cup  112 , such as a clip-on lid, a glued-on membrane, or a disk comprising a filling orifice. 
         [0080]      FIG. 7   b  shows a further cup  122  of the invention. Unlike the cup  112  shown in  FIG. 7   a , the cup  122  is provided with a peripheral deforming entity in the form of a reentrant shoulder  124 . A tubular wall  126  of the cup  122  extends below the shoulder  124  substantially parallel to the center axis of the cup  122  in order to re-assume a conical shape just above the bottom wall  128 . A plastic ring  130  is inserted into the interior of the cup  122 , which plastic ring  130  is provided with a circumferential reentrant heel that rests against the shoulder  124  and thus reinforces the same. The reinforcing ring  130  may, but not necessarily, be glued to the tubular wall  126 . As a result of the conical shape of the tubular wall  126  above the shoulder  124 , the reinforcing ring  130  can also be held securely on the cup  122  without the use of adhesive. The reinforcing ring  130  can be used for securely stacking a plurality of cups, but can also be used, for example, for accommodating membranes, lids, or the like. 
         [0081]    It is expressly stated that the various designs of the outer sleeve and other shaping means of the cup such as the peripheral deforming entity can be arbitrarily combined with each other as required and are not restricted to the variants shown. Furthermore, it should be noted that the illustrations are not drawn to scale.