Patent Publication Number: US-2005139081-A1

Title: Insulated sleeve for iced beverages

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/532,930 filed Dec. 29, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to insulating sleeves for beverages, and in particular to an insulating sleeve having a unique design configured and arranged for use with a cup of iced coffee.  
      There has been a recent surge in the popularity of iced beverages, particularly iced coffee and iced fruit drinks. The majority of these drinks are sold in clear plastic cups with a removable lid. The clear plastic cups provide a decorative presentation of the drinks in that the color of the drink shows through the clear sides of the cup. However, in areas of the country having high humidity and warm temperatures, the smooth outside surface of the plastic cups tend to accumulate condensation. The accumulated condensation drips down the side of the cup and often forms a pool of water around the bottom of the cup. When the beverage cup is placed into a cup holder in a vehicle, this condensation drips into the bottom of the cup holder and is generally an undesirable situation. Further, if the cup is left on a desk or other work surface, the condensation can damage a wood desk surface of saturate work papers in the area of the cup. Generally speaking, it would be desirable to reduce or eliminate this undesirable effect of drinking iced beverages, particularly iced-coffee, which has become popular for coffee breaks at work and in the car.  
      As a solution to the identified problem, the present invention provides an insulated sleeve which is particularly configured and arranged to snugly receive a conventional disposable iced beverage cup. A typical cup has a bottom wall with frustoconical sidewalls and a circular snap cover with a straw opening in the center. The present sleeve has a complimentary frustoconical shape with a bottom wall, and frustoconical side walls formed from a neoprene material (rubber interior with a fabric cover). The inner rubber provides the insulating function keeping the plastic from sweating, while also keeping the beverage cold for a longer period of time. The fabric outer surface of the neoprene material also provides a surface for imprinting logos and other printed indicia for advertising. The inner dimensions of the sleeve match the outer dimensions of the cup for a snug fit. The top edge of the sidewall of the sleeve includes an elastic lip which extends radially inwardly. There are several other embodiments of the sleeve, some of which include a vertical zipper which allows expansion of the sleeve and easier insertion of the cup into the sleeve, and a vertical window to see how much beverage is left in the cup. In yet another embodiment, the top edge of the side wall is heat staked to form a curled upper lip which extends over the top edge of the cup.  
      Accordingly, among the objects of the instant invention are: the provision of an insulating sleeve for a iced beverages and the provision of an insulating sleeve having a printable surface for accepting advertising materials and logos.  
      Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the drawings which illustrate the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional clear plastic iced beverage cup;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the insulating sleeve of the present invention with the beverage cup received therein;  
       FIG. 3  is another perspective view thereof with the sleeve rotated to show both the zipper and the window features;  
       FIG. 4  is yet another perspective view focusing on the window slot feature;  
       FIG. 5  is still another perspective view showing use of the sleeve with a cup having an alternative cover member;  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view thereof as taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment wherein the upper lip is heat staked into an inwardly curved configuration, and the zipper extends up through the top edge of the sleeve to separate the mating surfaces of the upper lip. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now to the drawings, the present invention provides an insulated sleeve which is particularly configured and arranged to snugly receive a conventional disposable iced beverage cup.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a typical iced beverage cup generally designated at  10  has a bottom wall  12  with frustoconical sidewalls  14  and a circular snap cover  16  with a straw opening  18  in the center.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the present sleeve is generally indicated at  20  and includes a complimentary frustoconical shape with a bottom wall  22 , and frustoconical side walls  24  formed from a neoprene material (rubber interior  26  with a fabric cover  28  on both inner and outer sides (See  FIG. 7 )). The inner rubber  26  material provides the insulating function to keep the plastic cup surfaces  12 ,  14  from sweating, while also keeping the beverage cold for a longer period of time. The fabric outer surfaces  28  of the neoprene material also provides a surface for imprinting logos and other printed indicia (not shown) for advertising. The inner dimensions of the sleeve  20  match the outer dimensions of the cup  10  for a snug fit. The top edge of the sidewall  24  of the sleeve  20  includes an elastic lip  30  which extends radially inwardly. The elastic lip  30  comprises a thin strip of elastic material sewn on to the top edge of the neoprene material around the entire periphery of the side wall  24  forming a closed loop. The elastic material allows the cup  10  to be inserted into the interior of the sleeve  20  while also providing an upper boundary to keep the sleeve  20  firmly in place on the cup  10  and further to prevent the lid  16  from coming off the cup  10 . It has been found that the elastic lip  30  will in fact reduce the chances of the lid  16  coming off of the cup  10 , if the cup is accidentally knocked over.  
      There are several other embodiments of the sleeve, some of which may include a vertical zipper  32  which allows expansion of the sleeve  20  and easier insertion of the cup  10  into the sleeve  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the zipper  32  is used in combination with the elastic lip  30 . In this case, the zipper  32  provides additional expansion of the sleeve  20  for insertion of the cup  10 . Once the cup  10  is in place, the zipper  32  can alternatively be used as a pocket opening in the sidewall  24  of the sleeve  20  to hold money, or other items. This feature could be useful, for example, when traveling to the beach to hold money, etc.  
      Another embodiment of the invention includes a vertical window  34  to see how much beverage is left in the cup  10  (See  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The window  34  could be left empty, i.e. as a slot in the sidewall  24 , or could comprise a strip of clear plastic sewn into the neoprene material.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in yet another embodiment generally indicated at  20 A, the top edge of the sidewall  24  is heat staked to form a curled upper lip  36  which extends over the top edge of the cup  10 . The heat staked feature would replace the elastic lip  30  and would potentially reduce manufacturing costs as well as provide easier insertion of the cup  10 . In this embodiment, the heat staking step would partially melt the neoprene material forming a hard curved lip to securely hold the cup within the sleeve  20 A.  
      It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides a unique and novel insulating sleeve for an iced beverage. The sleeve is configured and arranged to snugly receive the cup and prevent the cup from “sweating” and from damaging desks, car interiors etc. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art which has substantial commercial merit.  
      While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.