Patent Publication Number: US-2021177176-A1

Title: Stackable drinking cup

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to drinking cups. 
     2. Brief Summary of the Prior Art 
     Drinking cups adapted for use with straws are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,415 a drinking cup with a straw incorporated therein. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,814 discloses a beverage container with an integrated straw stored in the container lid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,576 discloses a drinking cup with self-contained straws. The straws are positioned in between an inner and outer wall of the cup, and a rotatable lid can be positioned to open or close outlet apertures for the straws formed in the rim of the cup. U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,631 discloses a combination straw, lid and cup including a housing on the outside of the cup to contain the straw before use. U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,668 discloses a stackable, non-spillable drinking container. U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,876 discloses a bifrustoconical beverage container having a bottom formed into a fingerlike projection over which a special straw that can be attached. U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,513 discloses a beverage container with a straw stored in the container&#39;s lid. U.S. Pat. No. 8,464,896 discloses a straw holder for a conventional beverage cup or beverage cup lid. U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,582 discloses a stackable drinking cup having a lid with an integral two-part straw, the lower portion of the straw is formed inside the body of the cup, and the upper portion of the straw is stored in a recess in the lid until use. An alignment tab assists in properly fitting the lid to the cup such that the upper, flexible portion of the straw can be inserted into the portion of the straw formed in the cup&#39;s side wall. 
     In recent times, disposable drinking straws, especially disposable plastic drinking straws, have been identified as a source of environmental pollution, to the extent that some governmental organizations have banned the use of such straws. Alternatives to disposable plastic straws are known. For example, reusable metal straws are available. However, these must be cleaned after use, and may not be available when needed, such as when dining out. Paper straws are also available. While functional and inexpensive, paper straws may not be usable with some types of fluids, such as warm or hot drinks. Thus, there is a continuing need for an inexpensive, simple solution to the environmental problems resulting from the use of disposable plastic straws. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a stackable drinking cup with a formed-in-place, integral drinking straw. There is no need for using a separate disposable plastic straw with the cup. The present invention provides a stackable drinking cup. The drinking cup includes a generally frustoconical body having a truncated conical side, as well as a rim and a generally flat bottom. In addition, the drinking cup includes a sipping straw formed in the conical side. The sipping straw includes a tubular section extending from the bottom to the rim. The sipping straw has an inwardly extending lower opening at the bottom of the body, and a mouthpiece at the rim. The mouthpiece includes an upper opening for sucking fluid from the cup, and extends outwardly from the side. Preferably, in one aspect of the present invention, the lower opening has a larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening. Preferably in another aspect of the present invention, the lower opening has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening. Preferably, the tubular section of the straw has an inner side and an outer side, such that the inner side of the cup is nestable within the outer side of another cup positioned within the cup. Preferably, the tubular section decreases in cross-sectional area from the bottom to the rim. Preferably, the outer side of the tubular section of the sipping straw extends inwardly from the side of the body of the cup. Preferably, the mouthpiece of the cup is nestable within the outer side of another cup positioned with the cup. Preferably, the inner side and the outer side of the tubular section of the sipping straw are generally concave. Preferably, the outer side of the tubular section forms a truncated conical section wider at the bottom than proximate the rim. Preferably, a horizontal cross-section of the outer side of the tubular section on a first plane forms an arc, and the horizontal cross-section of the inner side of the tubular section on the first plane forms an arc, with the arc of the inner side having a greater length than the length of the arc of the outer side. 
     In one aspect, the stackable drinking cup according the present invention preferably further includes a second tubular section formed in the side of the cup opposite the first tubular section, such that the drinking straw of a first drinking cup can nest within the second tubular section of a second drinking cup. In another aspect of the present invention, the stackable drinking cup preferably includes a first tubular section has a horizontal cross-section with a generally parallelpiped shape. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the stackable drinking cup preferably includes a first tubular section which has a horizontal cross-section of the first tubular section with a generally triangular shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational perspective view of the stackable drinking cup of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the stackable drinking cup of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4 . is a bottom perspective view of the stackable drinking cup of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pair of stacked drinking cups according to  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the stackable drinking cup of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a first perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a second perspective view of the drinking cup of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional elevational view of a pair of stackable drinking cups according to  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 13 . Is an elevational sectional view of a pair of stacked drinking cups of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the Figures in which like reference numerals represent like elements in each of the several views, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a perspective view of a first embodiment of a stackable drinking cup  10  according to the present invention, as shown from above. The drinking cup  10  has a generally frustoconical body  20  with a truncated conical side  22  having a rim  24  and a generally flat bottom  26 . A sipping straw  30  is formed in the conical side  22 . The sipping straw  30  includes a tubular section  32  extending from the bottom  26  to the rim  24 . The sipping straw  30  has an inwardly extending lower opening  50  proximate the bottom  26  of the body  20  (best seen in the perspective plan view of  FIG. 3 ), and a mouthpiece  40  proximate the rim  24 . The mouthpiece  40  includes an upper opening  52  for sucking fluid from the cup  10 . The mouthpiece  40  extends outwardly from the side  22 . The lower opening  50  has a larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening  52 . The tubular section  32  has an inner wall or side  36  and an outer wall or side  34 , such that the inner side of the cup  10  is nestable within the outer side of another cup  10  positioned within the cup  10  such as shown in  FIG. 5 . Preferably, in this aspect of the present invention, when the tubular section  32  projects into the interior of the cup body  20 , the tubular section  32  decreases in cross-sectional area from the bottom  26  to the rim  24 . Preferably, the outer side  34  of the tubular section  32  of the sipping straw  30  extends inwardly from the side  22  of the body  20  of the cup  10 . Preferably, the mouthpiece  40  of the cup  10  is nestable (that is, fits within) within the outer side  34  of another cup  10  positioned within the cup  10 , such as shown in  FIG. 5 . Preferably, the inner side  36  and the outer side  34  of the tubular section  32  of the sipping straw  30  are generally concave inwardly, as shown in the Figures. Preferably, the outer side  34  of the tubular section  32  forms a truncated conical section wider at the bottom  26  of the cup  10  than proximate the rim  24  of the cup  10 . 
     Preferably, a horizontal cross-section of the outer side  34  of the tubular section  30  on a first plane forms an arc, and the horizontal cross-section of the inner side  36  of the tubular section  30  on the first plane also forms an arc, with the arc of the inner side  36  having a greater length than the length of the arc of the outer side  34 . 
     A second embodiment of the stackable drinking cup  100  of the present invention is shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 6  and top plan view of  FIG. 7 . The stackable drinking cup  100  includes a sipping straw  130  including a first tubular section  132  formed in the frustoconical body  120  as in the first embodiment of a stackable drinking cup  10  of the present invention. However, in the case of this second embodiment, the frustoconical body  120  includes an inwardly extending second tubular section  162  formed opposite the first tubular section  132  (180 degrees from the first tubular section  132 ) such that when drinking cups  100  of this second embodiment are stacked, the orientation of the mouthpieces  140  can be selected so that the mouthpieces  140  of successive drinking cups  100  can be varied. Thus, for example, the orientation of the mouthpieces  140  can be alternated in a stack of drinking cups  100  to balance the weight of the drinking cups  100 , which may be desirable for shipping or dispensing purposes: A third or more corresponding tubular sections can be formed in the body of the drinking cup to provide alternative stacking orientations if desired, as long as the positions of the tubular sections are geometrically symmetric. For example, when a total of three tubular sections are formed, they should each be positioned 120 degrees from each adjacent tubular section (not shown). 
     A third embodiment of a stackable drinking cup  200  is shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 8  and sectional elevational view of  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, the drinking straw  230  includes a mouthpiece  240  as well as a first tubular section  232  having a prismatic shape with an outer wall  234 , an inner wall  236 , and a pair of side walls  238  each having a parallelpiped configuration. A second tubular section  262  is provided opposite the first tubular section  232 , so that the drinking cups  200  of this third embodiment can be stacked as in the case of the second embodiment. The second tubular section  262  provides a recess  264  in the body  220  of the drinking cup  200 . 
     A fourth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup  300  according to the present invention is shown in the perspective views of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The drinking cup  300  is similar to the drinking cup  100  of the second embodiment, in the drinking cup  300  includes a straw  330  having a first tubular section  332  as well as a complementary second tubular section  362  formed in the body  320  of the drinking cup  300  opposite the straw  330 . The first tubular section  332  includes both an outer wall  334  and an inner wall  336  spaced inward from the outer wall  334 . However, in this case, both the outer wall  334  and the inner wall  336  are formed from a pair of generally flat, inwardly projecting, parallelpiped-shaped panels  335 ,  337 , such that the horizontal cross section through the first tubular section  332  has a “V” shape, as does the horizontal cross section of the second tubular section  362 . Drinking cups  300   a ,  300   b  of the third embodiment are also stackable, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Preferably, in another aspect of the present invention, the lower opening of the tubular section of the drinking cup has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening of the tubular section, and in particular, when the tubular section of the drinking straw extends outwardly from the body of the drinking cup. 
     A fifth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup  400  according to the present invention is shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 12 . The drinking cup  400  is similar to the drinking cup  100  of the second embodiment, in the drinking cup  400  includes a straw  430  having a first tubular section  432  as well as a complementary second tubular section  462  formed in the body  420  of the drinking cup  400  opposite the straw  430 . However, in this embodiment, both the first tubular section  432  and the second tubular section  462  extend outward from the body  420  for the cup  400  rather than inwardly. The first tubular section  432  includes both an outer wall  434  and an innerwall  436  spaced inward from the outer wall  434 . However, in this case, both the outer wall  434  and the inner wall  436  are generally flat, parallelpiped-shaped, and spaced from one another, and connected by a pair of generally flat, parallelpiped-shaped panels  435 ,  437 , such that the horizontal cross section through the first tubular section  432  has a “U” shape, as does the horizontal cross section of the second tubular section  462 . Drinking cups  400   a ,  400   b  of the fifth embodiment are also stackable, as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional elevational view of a pair of stackable drinking cups  400  of the fifth embodiment shown with the straw  430   a  of a first or upper drinking cup  400   a  oriented to fit within the recess provided by the straw  430   b  of a second or lower drinking cup  400   b . Optionally, the first cup  420   a  could be rotated 180 degrees so that the straw  430   a  of the first cup  400   a  can be fit into the recess provided by the second tubular section  462  of the second cup  400   b  (not shown). 
     In general, the first tubular section can assume any geometry in its horizontal cross-section, provided that the outer wall of a first or upper drinking cup can fit within a second or lower drinking cup so that the cups can be stacked. 
     Various modifications can be made in the details of the various embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention, all within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.