Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02372845 2002-02-19
DEVICE FOR UNROLLING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING
PORTION OF AN OUTWARDLY ROLLED RIM OF A CUP
MADE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a device for unrolling a circumferentially
extending portion of an
outwardly rolled rim of a cup made of flexible material.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Cups made of a flexible material such as paper, paper wax or cardboard
and having an
outwardly rolled rim have been used for many years for liquids such as coffee.
It is also
known to provide information, such as contest information, on a
circumferentially extending
portion of the outwardly rolled rim so that such information is normally
hidden. A person
has to unroll that portion of the rim to reveal the information. This is
usually done by use
of the person's hand or hands and requires a certain amount of dexterity.
(0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a device which simplifies
the unrolling procedure
described above.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] According to the invention, a rim unrolling device has a main body with
spaced front and
rear wall portions connected together at their upper ends to form a U-shape in
side view to
enable the device to be placed over the rim of a cup with the front wall
portion inside the
cup and the rear wall portion cup. The main body has two laterally spaced
blade members
within the U-shape with downwardly facing cutting edges, and the rear wall
portion has a
forwardly projecting unrolling member below the blade members. When the device
has
been positioned on the cup, downward movement of the device causes the
unrolling member
to pass below the rim and the blade members to cut through the rim at
circumferentially
-1-
CA 02372845 2002-02-19
spaced positions to form a cut rim portion, and subsequent upward movement of
the device
causes the unrolling member to engage and unroll the cut rim portion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way
of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0006] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a rim unrolling device in
accordance with one
embodiment of the invention,
[0007] Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof,
[0008] Fig. 3 is a front view,
[0009] Fig. 4 is a rear view,
[0010] Fig. 5 is a side view,
[0011] Fig. 6 is a top view,
[0012) Fig. 7 is a bottom view,
[0013] Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3,
[0014] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the rim unrolling device about to
be used,
(0015] Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the rim unrolling device in initial
engagement with a cup,
-2-
CA 02372845 2002-02-19
[0016] Fig, 10a is a sectional view showing the initial engagement in more
detail,
[0017] Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the rim unrolling device pushed
down over the rim
of the cup,
[0018] Fig. 1 l a is a sectional view showing the pushed down position in more
detail,
[0019] Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the rim unrolling device being
moved upwardly,
[0020) Fig. 12a is a sectional view showing the upward movement in more
detail,
[0021] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cup showing an unrolled portion of
the rim, and
[0022] Fig. 14 is a similar view from another orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to the drawings, a rim unrolling device has a main body 12 of
synthetic plastic
material with spaced transversely curved front and rear wall portions 14, 16
connected
together at their upper ends by a connection portion 18 to form a U-shape in
side view. The
main body 12 has two laterally spaced blade members 20, 22 within the U-shape
and
partially embedded in the main body 12 so that the blade members 20, 22 are
retained
therein. The blade members 20, 22 have downwardly facing cutting edges 24, 26.
The rear
wall portion 16 has a forwardly projecting unrolling member 28 below the blade
members
20, 22, and the front wall portion 14 has an outwardly inclined lowermost
portion 30 to
facilitate initial positioning of the device on a cup.
[0024] In use, the device is positioned on a cup 32 with an outwardly rolled
rim 34 so that the front
wall portion 14 is inside the cup 32 and the rear wall portion 16 is inside
the cup 32. The
-3-
CA 02372845 2002-02-19
device is then pushed downwardly to cause the unrolling member 28 to pass
below the rim
34 and the blade members 20, 22 to cut through the rim 34 at circumferentially
spaced
positions to form a cut rim portion 36. The device is then pulled upwardly to
cause the
unrolling member 28 to engage and unroll the cut rim portion 36. A person can
then read
whatever is written on the cut rim portion 36.
(0025) A small integral loop 19 may be provided on connecting portion 18 to
enable the device to
be mounted on a key ring or chain or other key holder. Also, the front and/or
rear wall
portions 14, 16 may carry advertising material.
[0026] The advantages of the invention will now be readily apparent to a
person skilled in the art
from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment. Other embodiments
and
advantages will also now be readily apparent, the scope of the invention being
defined in
the appended claims.
::ODMA1PCDOCS1F1AM LAW12173211
February 7, 2002
-4-
