Abstract:
Described herein is a coffee cup plug that includes a combination cup/container sleeve and plug assembly. The coffee cup plug includes a sleeve for disposable beverage containers as well as a detachable plug. The plug includes a fold line such that when the plug is detached from the sleeve and folded the folded plug is configured to be inserted into a dispensing aperture formed in the lid of the cup/container. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Coffee shops, juice bars, and the like typically serve beverages to customers in disposable cups. A disposable lid snaps onto a lip formed at the upper rim of the cup. The disposable lid includes an opening from which the customer drinks the beverage. However, when the customer is walking, driving, or performing other actions when he or she is not drinking, the beverage tends to spill from the opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an example beverage system in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 2  shows an example of the sleeve depicted in  FIG. 1  in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 3  shows an example sleeve with a detachable plug removed from the sleeve depicted in  FIG. 3  in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of a technique to assemble the detachable plug in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 5  shows an example technique use to insert the plug depicted in  FIG. 4  in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 6  shows an example of an assembly technique for the beverage system depicted in  FIG. 1  in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 7  shows an example of an assembled beverage system in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method for serving a beverage using the sleeve depicted in  FIG. 2  in accordance with the description herein. 
         FIG. 9  shows example alternative plug shapes in accordance with the description herein. 
     
    
    
     The Detailed Description references the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Even in this age in which coffee shops, juice bars, smoothie shops, and the like, are prevalent, it is still the case that beverages tend to spill from the openings in the lids that cover the cups in which the beverages are served. This can be troublesome especially when driving, walking or performing other actions. 
     Disclosed herein are techniques whereby a beverage company can offer beverages such as juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, and other beverages to customers in disposable cups that have lids whose sipping opening can be plugged using a detachable plug located on a sleeve and/or jacket for the cup. The beverage server can prepare the beverage, pour it into the cup, and place the cup into the sleeve. The sleeve includes a portion that is detachable along a perforated perimeter. When a customer or the server removes the detachable portion, the detachable portion can be folded along a fold line to define the plug. The customer and/or server can then insert the plug into the sipping opening to reduce the chance of spillage. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example beverage system  100  in accordance with an implementation. The illustrated system  100  includes a beverage container  102  with a body, an upper end  104 , and a lower end  106 . The illustrated upper end  104  of the container  102  includes an opening  108  and a rim  110 . The illustrated system  100  also includes a lid  112  that mates with the rim  110  of the upper end  104  of the container  102 . 
     The illustrated lid  112  includes a dispensing aperture  114  that dispenses a liquid. For example, a user drinks the liquid in the container  102  through the aperture  114 . In one or more implementations, the liquid can be coffee, tea, juice, hot chocolate, milk, or any suitable liquid. However, the liquid may be another type of liquid such as soup, hot water, soft drinks, and the like. 
     The illustrated system  100  also includes a sleeve  116 . In one or more implementations, the sleeve  116  encircles the container  102 . In one or more implementations, the sleeve  116  includes a textured container  102 -engaging surface. In one or more implementations, the textured container  102 -engaging surface includes a one or more raised ribs. In one or more implementations, the sleeve  116  may be thermally insulating. 
     In one or more implementations, the container  102  is a disposable cup that is placed into the sleeve  116 . The sleeve  116  as well as the container  102  may be made from any suitable material such as cardboard, paperboard, or the like. In implementations in which the sleeve  116  is thermally insulating, the sleeve  116  protects the user&#39;s hands from heat of the liquid in the container  102 . The sleeve  116  can be manufactured using any known techniques. A suitable manufacturing technique includes the technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,644. 
     The illustrated sleeve includes a detachable portion  118  defined by a perforated perimeter  120 . The detachable portion  118  can be inserted into the dispensing aperture  114  of the lid  112 . The detachable portion  118  also includes a fold line  120  along which the detachable portion  118  can be folded. The detachable portion  118  of the sleeve  116  can be manufactured using any known techniques. 
     When the user removes the detachable portion  118  along the perforated perimeter  120  and folds the detachable portion  118  along the fold line  122 , the detachable portion forms a plug. A user can insert the plug into the dispensing aperture  114  to prevent spilling of contents of the container  102 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of the sleeve  116  in accordance with an implementation. The illustrated sleeve  116  includes an upper open end  202  and a lower open end  204 . The upper open end  202  of the sleeve and the lower open end  204  of the sleeve are opposite each other. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example sleeve  116  with a detachable plug  118  removed from the sleeve  116  in accordance with an implementation. When the detachable plug  118  is removed from the illustrated sleeve  116  along the perforation  120 , the sleeve  116  includes a void  304  substantially in the shape of the detachable portion  118 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of a technique to assemble the detachable portion  118  in accordance with an implementation. When the detachable portion  118  is removed from the sleeve  118  the detachable portion  118  can be folded along the fold line  122  in the direction of the arrow  402 . A plug  404  is form by folding the detachable portion  118  along the fold line  122  in the direction of the arrow  402 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an example technique use to insert the plug  404  into the aperture  114  of the lid  112  in accordance with an implementation. Note that the plug  404  fits into the opening of the aperture  114  so as to substantially prevent spilling of any liquid contents of the container  102   
       FIG. 6  shows an example of a technique to assemble the beverage system  100  in accordance with an implementation. The illustrated implementation shows the beverage container  102  body, the container  102  upper end  104 , the container  102  lower end  106 , and the container  102  opening  108  and rim  110 . The illustrated system  100  also shows the lid  112  that will mate with the rim  110  along the direction of an arrow  602 . The beverage container  102  body is inserted in the sleeve  116 . 
     In the illustrated implementation, a user has removed the detachable portion  118  from the sleeve  116 , leaving the void  304 . The user also has folded the detachable portion  118  along the fold line  122  to form the plug  404 . The user than inserts the plug  404  into the aperture  114  along the arrow  604 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of an assembled beverage system  100  in accordance with an implementation. In the illustrated implementation, the lid  112  is placed on top of the container  102 , which is inserted into the sleeve  116 . The detachable portion  118  has been removed, forming the void  304 , and folded to form the plug  404 . The plug  404  has been inserted in the aperture  114  to prevent the beverage in the container  102  from spilling. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method for serving a beverage using the sleeve  116  in accordance with an implementation. 
     In block  802 , a beverage is poured into a container. In one or more implementations, a barista, for example, pours coffee into the container  102 . 
     In block  804 , the container is inserted into a sleeve that has a detachable portion capable of being formed into a plug. In one or more implementations, the barista inserts the container  102  into the sleeve  116 . 
     In a block  806 , the beverage is served to a user in the container that has been inserted into the sleeve that has the detachable portion capable of being formed into a plug. In one or more implementations, the barista serves coffee to the user in the container  102  inserted into the sleeve  114 . The user can then remove the detachable portion  118  and form it into the plug  118  to prevent spilling of the coffee. 
     Although various shaped have been shown with respect to an inverted “V” configuration, implementations are not so limited. For example,  FIG. 9  shows example alternative plug shapes in accordance with the description herein.  FIG. 9  illustrates various shapes  902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908 ,  910 ,  912 ,  914 ,  916 ,  918 ,  920 ,  922 ,  924 ,  926 ,  928 ,  930 , and  932 . After reading the description herein, a person with skill in the relevant art will be able to implement the shapes illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     While certain features set forth herein have been described with reference to various implementations, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Hence, various modifications of the implementations described herein, as well as other implementations, which are apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     Realizations in accordance with the present invention have been described in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Boundaries between various components, operations, etc., are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of claims that follow. Finally, structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the various configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow. 
     One or more implementations are described herein with reference to illustrations for particular applications. It should be understood that the implementations are not intended to be limiting. Those skilled in the art with access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and implementations within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the technology would be of significant utility. In the above description of example implementations, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, configurations, and other details are set forth in order to better explain implementations as claimed. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the claims may be practiced using details different from the examples described herein. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified to clarify the description of the example implementations. 
     For example, it will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, it will be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, which are also intended to be encompassed by the claims that follow. 
     As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more,” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.