Patent Abstract:
There is now provided a pleated disposable paper cup with a zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body, an open top and closed bottom. The cup is constructed of a paper card stock evenly folded to create parallel pleats that serve to decrease the energy transfer between hot or cold beverages contained in the cup and a user&#39;s hand, enabling the user to hold onto the container for an extended period of time without pain or discomfort. The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant&#39;s option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72( b ). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72( b ): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, the abstract is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a pleated disposable cup or like receptacles and method of manufacture thereof.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Double-cupping is widely used in the industry to solve the problem of cups being too hot to handle safely. Supplementary insulating sleeves such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473 represent another method that has been employed to make paper cups safer to use when filled with hot contents. Multi-layered paper cups have also been designed to provide insulation between hot liquid contents and a user&#39;s hand, such as, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,523 to Shikaya, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473 to Coffin, Sr., 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,124 to Mueller, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,311 to Norika et al., 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,577 to Titus 1999 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,766 to Sadlier, 2002.  
       OBJECT  
       [0005]     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a disposable paper cup which is of a more effective and efficient configuration than those mentioned herein above, and to alleviate the problems associated with the need to provide insulation between cups or containers which contain hot or cold contents and a hand of a user.  
         [0006]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a disposable paper or card stock material cup which is aesthetically attractive, distinctive, and simple in construction, and in which insulation qualities have been incorporated into the structure and design of the cup to protect the hand of a user from the hot or cold content of the cup, without the need for supplementary insulating sleeves or double-cupping.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The primary feature of the present invention provides a substantially improved insulation quality by a main, cylindrical body component with a wall structure that has a zigzag pleated shape to allow airflow between the full body of the cup and a hand of a user. Also, contact between a hand of a user and the main body of the cup is minimized to the outer points of the pleats or ridges of the body, thereby substantially reducing the surface area of the cup which may be heated or cooled by the content of the cup while also contacting a hand of a user. Accordingly, safety and ease of use are greatly improved.  
         [0008]     The object may also be accomplished by a container for holding hot liquids, cold liquids, food items, and the like, said container comprising: a wall structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the finished condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; and said wall structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the finished condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or to cold to a hand of a user.  
         [0009]     The object may further be accomplished by a disposable container for holding hot liquids, cold liquids, food items, and the like, said container comprising: a structure having a length dimension and a width dimension greater than said width dimension in the unassembled condition of said container and being configured to form a cylindrical shaped body with a top and a bottom remote from said top by said width dimension; said structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; said structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or to cold to a hand of a user; a bottom structure being configured and disposed to close said bottom of said container; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to form a mouth portion at said top of said container.  
         [0010]     There is also provided a disposable container wherein said stock structure comprises a card stock, a paper stock or a paper-like material as known in the art with at least one moisture repellant side. Such material may, in one embodiment of my invention, be a biodegradable material. In one embodiment, the cup is made of a paperboard having a coating comprising a thin layer of polyethylene. In one embodiment, the paperboard is coated on both sides with polyethylene. I will be appreciated that my invention is applicable to a cup such as known as NO. 2346P37636 DIXIE® GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION BRAMPTON, ONTARION MADE IN CANADA K cup; or as MANUFACTURED BY CONFERENCE CUP LTD. LONDON, CANADA 350-9517-G cup; or as MADE BY/FABRIQUE PAR SOLO CUP CO., CHICAGO, Ill., U.S.A. C NO. 372ST075 A-2 12 oz (355 ml) SPECIAL DESIGN HOT CUP cup; or as 10HT4 LILY Toronto, Canada lily@sweetheart.com L1459 cup; or as 575HTB LILY Toronto, Canada lily@sweetheart.com L1459 cup; or as ROLL UP THE RIM TO WIN cup that does not have markings; or as 2346 JAMES RIVER INC. BRAMPTON; ONTARIO D.S. 9277 cup; or as © 2003 McDonald&#39;s Corporation (13159) 3 cup, including a sleeve according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473; or as © 1997 SOLO CUP CO., CHICAGO, Ill., U.S.A. NO. 378S1 8 oz (237 ml) HOT CUP cup; or as NO. 185, FLOWING FLOWERS © FORT JAMES [RIVER?] CORPORATION, MADE IN U.S.A. E cup; or as DART A00 077 12J12 cup. Such cups are widely used at least in Canada by various food outlets. Such cups and their material of construction are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.  
         [0011]     There is also provided a disposable container according wherein said ridges and valleys comprise at least one of isosceles ridges and valleys and rounded ridges and valleys.  
         [0012]     There is also provided a disposable container wherein said ridges and valleys have a height dimension of approximately one quarter of an inch.  
         [0013]     There is also provided a method of producing a container with a zigzag shaped, pleated body or sidewall component of a paper or card stock material, or paper-like material, which method comprises placing the blank cut to predetermined dimensions across the cavity of a die set, and then lowering the top part of the die set on top of the card stock or blank so that the weight of the top part of the die set pushes the card stock into the shape of said cavity to form a predetermined piece of pleated cardstock. The piece of card stock thereby shaped and produced will herein also be called the cylindrical sidewall component of the container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a pre-cut card stock in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a pre-cut card stock having been pressed in a form which creates parallel folds in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bottom component of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a mouthpiece structure for the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  represents a large sheet of paper card stock from which is stamped the trapezoidal shaped sidewall of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates two halves of a die form configured to press the pleats into the paper card stock in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates joining of the opposite edges of the paper card stock to form the cylindrical body of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  illustrates a step of the manufacturing process through which a pre-engineered metal drop is used to position the bottom component of the cup next to the cylindrical body in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  illustrates the step of gluing together of the bottom component of the cup to the cylindrical body of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  illustrates application of a staple for further strengthening the bond between the bottom component of the cup and the cylindrical body in accordance with one embodiment of my invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  depicts the mouthpiece of the cup being glued to the cylindrical body of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  represents pre-cut card stock with a moisture repellant wax layer on one side, that is, the side that is to be in contact with the content of the finished container. Such card stock is universally employed in the manufacture of disposable hot beverage cups. The card stock may be punched into a trapezoidal sector shape. The exterior side of the pre-cut card stock is generally unwaxed so that decorative graphics or advertising can be printed thereon.  
         [0026]     The cut blank  10  has an upper edge  12  and a lower edge  14  which edges  12  and  14  are spaced apart from one another by the width of the blank  10  which width yields the height of the container C. The blank  10  has lateral edges  16  and  18  that can be joined to one another so as to fashion the desired cylindrical or frusto-conical configuration of the cup or container  10 . It is one feature of my container that an area such as  20  is available for graphics or indicia.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  represents the pre-cut card stock blank  10  with a moisture repellant wax layer on one side having been pressed in a form or die, or shaped in desired manner, that creates parallel folds or pleats  22  that are approximately one quarter of an inch in height. This card stock or material  10  constitutes the sidewall of the cup C. The pleated sidewall gives my cup its distinctive aesthetic appeal and superior functionality. The size of the container C is determined by the dimensions of the punched, pre-cut card stock with a moisture repellant wax layer on one side, the number of folds  22  in the sidewall, and the size of the corresponding bottom component, shown in  FIG. 3  and the mouthpiece, shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2A  illustrates in greater detail the outer ridges  10   a  and the inner ridges  10   b , with outer walls  10   c  and  10   d , as well as inner walls  10   e  and  10   f . The walls may be disposed at an angle that can readily be determined by experimentation to impart the desired qualities to the finished cup C. With reference to  FIG. 2B , the outer ridges may be reinforced as is indicated by  10   g .  FIG. 2C  illustrates a wavy patters having outer ridges  10 . 2  and inner ridges  10 . 3  that may be connected to one another by sloping or straight walls  10 . 1 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the bottom component  30  of my cup. The bottom  30  may be made of pressed, recycled paper having a thickness of approximately one half of an inch thickness with a thin layer of moisture repellant wax on the interior surface and a standard paper exterior surface which can receive print. The bottom component  30  may be die-cut from pressed, recycled paper in a zigzag formation with a number of points  32  and valleys  34  corresponding to the number of pleats  22  in the sidewall component or blank  10 , shown in  FIG. 2 , to which the bottom  30  is attached.  
         [0030]     The top portion of  FIG. 4  represents a possible embodiment of the mouthpiece of cup C. It is a ring structure  40  that may be manufactured from soft grade plastic or paper fiber that has distinct top portion  42  that may be in contact with the mouth of a user and bottom sides  44  and  46 , see bottom portion of  FIG. 4 , that may be secured, say by crimping, at the upper edge  12  of the blank  10 .  
         [0031]     Thus, the bottom portion of  FIG. 4  is a cut-out which shows that the bottom side of the mouthpiece  40 , that is, the sides  44  and  46 , is constructed so that it can receive and be pressed together and glued or otherwise adhered to the pleated sidewall of the cup or blank  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , of the cup C. The dimensions of the mouthpiece may be sized to accept the standard tops that are widely available in the industry.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  represents a large sheet of paper card stock with a moisture repellant wax layer on one side from which the trapezoidal shaped sidewall or blank  10  ( FIG. 2 ) of the cup is stamped, the attendant equipment being generally identified by reference numeral  50 . Each stamped sidewall or blank  10  contains the amount of paper card stock, or material used, that is needed to create the pleats  22  which characterize the cylindrical body of the cup C. The exterior, unwaxed surface of the paper card stock will be able to accept ink for purposes of graphic representation.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates schematically a pre-engineered die form  60  configured to press the pleats  22 , or ridges and valleys, into the paper card stock  10  with the moisture repellant wax layer on one side. Thus, die form has a male portion  62  and a female portion  64 , but other methods of creasing are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows the opposite edges  16  and  18  of the paper card stock  10  with the moisture repellant interior wax layer being glued together to form the cylindrical body of the cup C. The adhesive agent to secure the edges  16  and  18  to one another may be any of those used widely in the manufacture of similar products. The adhesive agent will be applied along the full length of the adjoining edges  16  and  18  of the sidewall to create a watertight seal.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates the insertion of bottom  30  into the blank  10  that has been glued, to position the bottom  30  at the lower edge  14  of container C. Positioning may be accomplished by a pre-engineered metal drop not shown in greater detail.  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates the step  90  of gluing together of the bottom component  30  and the cylindrical body  10  of cup C.  
         [0037]     Thus, reference numeral  91  represents a piston that may be employed to push the bottom component  30  into place within the cylindrical body and maintain pressure until the applied glue dries.  
         [0038]     Reference numeral  92  represents the area where the glue may be applied.  
         [0039]     Reference numeral  93  indicates hot air pressure being applied to reduce the drying time of the adhesive material, thereby accelerating the manufacturing process.  
         [0040]      FIG. 10  shows a staple  100  that may be employed to further strengthen the adhesive bond between the bottom  30  and cylindrical body  10 . Staples will be placed strategically in two or more pleats  22  to ensure that the bottom  30  cannot fall out when in use. Staples will be placed in barely visible locations so they do not detract from the cup&#39;s appearance. Reference numeral  102  generally identifies the die or tool that may be employed to apply a staple  100 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates the mouthpiece  40  being glued to the cylindrical body  10  of cup C to form a new and improved disposable paper cup that meets or exceeds quality standards for the industry.  
         [0042]     Reference numeral  114  represents the cylindrical body  10  being inserted into the bottom side of the mouthpiece  40 , where the two components are attached with an adhesive agent to one another.  
         [0043]     Reference numeral  115  represents the pre-engineered metal holder of the mouthpiece  115  which may be equipped with a hot-air drying system to speed assembly.  
         [0044]     Thus, the pleated card stock which constitutes the body of the cup C is wrapped around to form the cylindrical or desired shape, with the two side edges  16  and  18  of the card stock  10  overlapping and being joined together with the adhesive. The zigzag bottom component  30  may be die cut from a one-half inch pressed, recycled paper which gives strength and rigidity to the whole structure and bonds easily to the cylindrical body  10  of the cup C. Strategically placed staples can be used to reinforce the adhesive bond between the body of the cup and the bottom component  30 , increasing the safety of the cup by ensuring the bottom  30  cannot fall out.  
         [0045]     The cup can be manufactured in different sizes and configurations to suit different applications. The standard disposable beverage cup will have a smaller, zigzag shaped bottom component and a narrower overall diameter, while a larger zigzag shaped bottom component will be employed to produce soup or ice cream containers requiring a wider diameter. The circular mouthpiece component  40  may be made of soft grade plastic or paper fibers and will have an open bottom side designed to receive the upper edge of the cylindrical body of cup C for purposes of attachment and adhesion between the mouthpiece  40  and the body components.  
         [0046]     This container will be easier to grip then similar products and will feature a greatly reduced rate of energy transfer (heat or cold) between the contents and the hand of a holder, thus maximizing both comfort and safety for the user.  
         [0047]     The zigzag shaped, pleated sidewall component or blank  10  may be formed into a cylindrical body by bringing together the two sides of the pleated card stock that forms the sidewall and attaching them by means of adhesive glue.  
         [0048]     The cup will have a circular rim attached by means of adhesive glue to the upper portion of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body. Such circular rim constitutes the mouthpiece. A flat one-quarter of an inch to one-half of an inch pressed paper, zigzag shaped closure attached by means of adhesive glue to the lower end of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body  10  constitutes the bottom component  30 .  
         [0049]     The upper rim or mouthpiece  40  being a separate entity constructed of soft plastic or paper fiber may be pressed into place and glued to the top edge of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body, thereby becoming a constituent part of the whole cup or container C.  
         [0050]     The pleats or folds being one-quarter of an inch each from peak to valley create a zigzag shaped cylindrical body of the desired dimension which size can be varied in width by increasing or reducing the number of pleats in the body and/or by adjusting the angle between the pleats.  
         [0051]     The size of the bottom component  30  will be determined by the dimensions of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body to which said bottom component is intended to be attached in manufacture to constitute a container of predetermined overall dimension.  
         [0052]     The size of the mouthpiece component  40  relative to the size of the bottom component  30  will determine the shape of the container insofar as differences in diameter between said top and bottom components will create and define a degree of taper in the overall shape of the container.  
         [0053]     My claim is that we can use the same concept of card stock folded into a zigzag shaped, pleated container body to produce other containers than disposable paper cups. The number and dimensions of the pleats, the determined length of the body, and the dimension of the top and bottom components of the container will dictate the size and exact overall shape of the final container.  
         [0054]     The zigzag shaped bottom component of the container will be precut from a large piece of pressed, recycled paper fibers. The top interior side will have a thin layer of moisture repellant wax and the bottom or exterior side will have a card stock layer that can accept ink for purposes of graphic reproduction.  
         [0055]     The bottom component  30  will be secured to the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body component by means of a combination of adhesive glue and supplementary, strategically placed staples.  
         [0056]     The upper edges of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body of the container will be pressed into the bottom side of the circular mouthpiece, which is designed to receive such upper edge of the pleated body  10  so that the two parts can be easily attached and bonded together with adhesive glue. The mouthpiece component of the container will be sized to accommodate the standard cut tops widely available on the market.  
         [0057]     My present invention also relates to a method for folding a moisture repellant wax coated card stock or commensurate material into a zigzag shaped, pleated body with ridges and valleys to create a disposable paper cup which can be manufactured simply and effectively.  
         [0058]     The resulting cup with its pleated exterior surface is much easier to grip for the user and provides greatly improved insulation between the user&#39;s hand and the body of the cup. Such folded pleats also enhance the strength and rigidity of the whole structure of the cup. The cup is therefore functionally superior and much safer to use.  
         [0059]     Thus, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a pleated disposable cup or like containers or receptacles and/or attendant structures and methods of manufacture thereof.  
         [0060]     The following U.S. patents the references contained therein and the references in which they, in turn, are cited, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein: 
    U.S. Pat. No. 697,496 issued to Klotz on Apr. 15, 1902;     U.S. Pat. No. 1,189,822 issued to House on Jul. 4, 1916;     U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,549 issued to Egger on Nov. 11, 1952;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,683 issued to Goodwin on Sep. 26, 1961;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,377 issued to Muller on Nov. 7, 1961;     U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,618 issued to Goodman on Jul. 14, 1964;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,468 issued to Baron on Jul. 13, 1965;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,253 issued to Davis on Apr. 8, 1969;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,714 issued to Edwards on May 13, 1969;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,715 issued to Edwards on May 13, 1969;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,310 issued to Goetz on Mar. 31, 1970;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,523 issued to Shikaya on Sep. 30, 1975;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,380 issued to Belivakici et al. on Jan. 6, 1976;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,234 issued to Olney et al. on Jun. 13, 1978;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,335 issued to Herbst on May 19, 1981;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,226 issued to Herbst on Aug. 18, 1981;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,873 issued to Schulz on Nov. 17, 1987;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,348 issued to Clements on Oct. 22, 1985;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,873 issued to Schulz on Nov. 17, 1987;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,366 issued to Durgin et al. on Feb. 4, 1992;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473 issued to Coffin, Sr. on Apr. 27, 1993;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,858 issued to Tanner et al. on May 25, 1993;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,339 issued to Howard on May 16, 1995;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,124 issued to Mueller on Aug. 20, 1996;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,238 issued to Andersen et al. on Jan. 6, 1998;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,716 issued to Cai et al. on Jun. 16, 1998;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,311 issued to Morita et al. on Jun. 23, 1998;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,381 issued to Clements on Dec. 15, 1998;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,352 issued to Cai on Apr. 25, 2000;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,363 issued to Rule, Jr. on Nov. 28, 2000;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,741 issued to Miranda on Feb. 20, 2001;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,201 issued to Cooper et al. on May 8, 2001;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,766 issued to Sadlier on Apr. 30, 2002;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,147 issued to Arentsen et al. on Feb. 18, 2003;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,196 issued to Aho et al. on Mar. 11, 2003;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,154 issued to Chauhan et al. on Apr. 29, 2003;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,786 issued to Guo on Jul. 29, 2003; and     U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,728 issued to Newkirk et al. on Aug. 5, 2003.    
 
         [0099]     The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may be used in the embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof. The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are schematically accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification. All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein. All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, and recited in the Declaration attached hereto, and the references recited in such incorporated references are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents cited herein, and the references they are in turn cited in, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited anywhere in the present application. All of the references included herein as aforesaid include the corresponding equivalents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and elsewhere. The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at Applicant&#39;s option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art. The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at Applicant&#39;s option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.  
         [0100]     Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.  
         [0101]     The invention as described hereinabove in the context of the preferred embodiments is not to be taken as limited to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1