Patent ID: 7597246

Claim:
An insulated cup comprising a top portion and a base sleeve that forms a bottom of the cup; said top portion having a side wall, a top, a bottom, a top opening, a bottom opening and a cavity extending from said top opening to said bottom opening, said top portion including a paper or cardboard material, said side wall of said top portion having an outer surface; and, said base sleeve formed of a single piece of material that includes a paper or cardboard material that includes a corrugated paper material or corrugated cardboard material, said base sleeve including a base, a side wall extending upwardly from said base, an upper opening and a sleeve cavity extending from an upper surface of said base to said upper opening, said upper surface forming an inner surface of said cup and a bottom surface of said cup such that when liquid is contained in said cup the liquid directly contacts said upper surface of said base of said base sleeve, said inner surface of said sleeve cavity absent a seam, said base sleeve fitted onto said bottom of said top portion so that said sleeve cavity of said base sleeve at least partially telescopically receives said side wall of said top portion and covers and seals said bottom opening of said top portion, said side wall of said base sleeve forming a portion of an outer surface of said cup to enable a user to grasp said side wall of said base sleeve and thereby insulate the user from a temperature of the liquid in said cup, said inner surface of said base sleeve connected to said outer surface of said side wall of said top portion and forming a liquid proof seal between said inner surface of said base sleeve and said outer surface of said side wall of said top portion, said inner surface of said base sleeve at least partially connected to said outer surface of said side wall of said top portion by an adhesive or heat created seal, said liquid proof seal at least partially formed by said adhesive or said heat created seal.