Patent ID: 6986438

Claim:
An insulating sleeve for encircling a frusto-conical container having an open wider end located at the top of said container, comprising: an elongate body having elongated and substantially straight top and bottom edges and first and second end edges, said body being substantially flat when said elongate body is in an unassembled configuration and said body being in a substantially cylindrical when said elongate body is in an assembled configuration with said first and second end edges fastened to each other, said body in an assembled configuration defining an annular sleeve with top and bottom openings for receiving said container therein; and a plurality of slits cut at least partway across said body from said top edge of said body each slit comprising an entry point at said top edge of said body and a terminal point at least partway across said body; said cut out region having a width greater than the width of said slit; a cut out region within said body at said terminal point of each slit; whereby, when said container is inserted into said sleeve through said top opening, said slits allow said top edge of said annular sleeve to spread such that said annular sleeve at least partially conforms to said container's frusto-conical shape, and whereby said cut out region serves to spread tearing pressure caused by hoop stress on said sleeve caused by insertion of said container within said sleeve.