Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOLDABLE AIR INSULATING SLEEVE
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to insulating devices for beverage containers
and
more particularly, to insulating beverages and foods by using air as the
insulator.
2. Background and Related Art
Disposable cups are routinely used in fast food and roadside restaurants to
contain both hot and cold drinks. Because such cups have relatively thin
walls,
insulation is poor. As a result, the cups in which hot beverages are served
are often
too hot to hold comfortably, and the outside surface of cups in which cold
beverages
are served often accumulate moisture also making the cups difficult to hold,
thus
causing the holder's hand and the table to become wet. In addition, cold
drinks warm
quickly and hot drinks lose heat rapidly.
In response to the need for a better beverage insulator, various types of
disposable cardboard and paper sleeves have been used. The sleeves are sized
to slide
onto the outside of a beverage cup and are held in place by friction. The wide-
diameter end of the typical beverage cup prevents the sleeve from sliding off
the cup
while the cup is being held. However, such devices are poor insulators because
they
are generally thin. Moreover, the close contact with the cup causes additional
heat
transfer to the outside of the insulator. Additional insulation is needed at
the bottom
of beverage cups because the fluid has been there for a longer period of time.
Also,
such devices typically cover any printable material on the outside of the cup,
resulting
in a lost opportunity for advertising. While some transparent insulators have
been
created, they also lose effectiveness as insulators because. of the close
contact with the
cups and the conductive material out of which they are typically made. Some of
the
more effective insulators are too bulky and take up too much storage space in
small
convenience stores, thus making the disposable cups too big to fit in most cup-
holders. Another problem with most disposable cups is that since typical cups
have
narrow bases, they are unstable. Thus, there is a great need in the beverage
industry
for cups with better insulation and overall improvement.
To solve the problem of difficulty in gripping either hot drinks or cold
drinks
that accumulate moisture on the outside of the cup, some disposable cups
include
handles. Unfortunately, the problem with handles is that they are typically
made out
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of paper or other sheet-like material and they lack sufficient strength to
hold the cup
in an upright position when the user is holding the cup by the handle. In
other words,
the weight of the cup can cause the handle to sag or tear such that the cup
will tilt,
spilling the beverage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to insulating devices for beverage containers
and
more particularly, to insulating beverages and foods by using air as the
insulator.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention involves a foldable air
insulating sleeve configured to slidably receive and secure a beverage cup.
The
foldable air insulating sleeve secures the cup in a manner that allows for a
pocket of
air to surround the cup. This pocket of air insulates the beverage. The user
can hold
the cup by grasping the outer surface of the foldable air insulating sleeve,
thus
avoiding contact with a hot or wet cup surface. Because the bases of most
disposable
cups are narrower than their respective rims, more air and thus greater
insulation is
possible, especially towards the bottom of cups secured by the foldable air
insulating
sleeve. The wider base also gives the cup greater stability. Furthermore, the
material
out of which the foldable air insulating' sleeve is made allows for
advertisements or
other printable material to be affixed on its outer surface. The foldable air
insulating
sleeve can be made out of many materials, including plastic or paper. The
foldable air
insulating sleeve is also foldable into a substantially flat position.
In this embodiment, the base of the cup rests on an inner base of the foldable
air insulating sleeve. The inner base is connected to an outer base, which is
in contact
with the outer surface and supports the entire sleeve-cup configuration. The
space
between the inner and outer base is filled with air and further acts to
insulate the
contents of the cup.
In another embodiment, the foldable air insulating sleeve's outer base is in
contact with the outer surface and supports the entire sleeve-cup
configuration.
In yet another embodiment, the foldable air insulating sleeve's inner base has
an opening through which the cup enters until the cup is either too wide and
is
stopped from further passage or until the cup meets the outer base of the
foldable air
insulating sleeve and is supported by it.
In even another embodiment, the foldable air insulating sleeve's outer base,
while wider than the cup it supports, is narrow enough to fit into most cup
holders.
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In an additional embodiment, the foldable air insulating sleeve includes a lid
that attaches to the top rim of the cup. The lid is substantially hollow,
providing an air
chamber, which further insulates the contents of the cup. When the foldable
air
insulating sleeve is used with food, the lid has no openings. When used with a
cold
drink, the lid has an opening through which a straw is placed. Finally, when
used
with a hot drink, the lid has a rounded mouth piece and a cap.
While the methods and processes of the present invention have proven to be
particularly useful in association with beverage containers, those skilled in
the art will
appreciate that the methods and processes can be used in a variety of
different
applications to insulate a variety of different kinds of temperature sensitive
substances
(e.g. soups and other foods).
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set
forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and
in the
appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by
means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended
claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be
learned by
the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set
forth
hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the manner in which the above recited and other features and
advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particular
description of the
invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which
are
illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that the drawings depict
only
typical embodiments of the present invention and are not, therefore, to be
considered
as limiting the scope of the invention, the present invention will be
described and
explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the
accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 provides an illustration of a representative embodiment of the
present
invention, wherein a foldable air insulating sleeve comprises a rim, an inner
base and
an outer base, where the inner base and outer base are connected.
Figure 2 provides an illustration of a representative embodiment of the
present
invention that houses a cup.
Figure 3 provides an illustration of a representative foldable air insulating
sleeve in folded position.
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Figure 4 provides an illustration of another representative foldable air
insulating sleeve with cup where the foldable air insulating sleeve includes
an inner
base but no outer base.
Figure 5 shows an alternative illustration of foldable air insulating sleeve
in
folded position without outer base.
Figure 6 provides an illustration of another representative foldable air
insulating sleeve with cup that includes a modified inner base.
Figure 7 provides an illustration of the foldable air insulating sleeve with
modified inner base in folded position.
Figure i~ provides an illustration of the foldable air insulating sleeve with
a
hollow food container lid.
Figure 9 provides an illustration of the foldable air insulating sleeve with a
hollow cold drink lid.
Figure 10 provides an illustration of the foldable air insulating sleeve with
a
hollow hot drink lid and cap.
Figure 11 provides a cross-sectional illustration of the foldable air
insulating
sleeve with a hollow hot drink lid and cap.
Figure 12 provides a cross-sectional illustration of a cup with a hollow food
container lid where the air chamber is placed above the lid.
Figure 13 provides a cross-sectional illustration of a cup with a hollow cold
drink lid where the air chamber is placed above the lid.
Figure 14 provides a cross-sectional illustration of a cup with a
hemispherical
hollow cold drink lid.
Figure 15 provides a cross-sectional illustration of a cup with a hollow hot
drink lid and cap where the air chamber is placed above the lid.
Figure 16 provides a cross-sectional illustration of a cup with an alternate
hollow hot drink lid and cap where the air chamber is placed above the lid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to insulating devices for beverage containers,
and more particularly, to insulating beverages and foods by using air as the
insulator.
In the disclosure and in the claims the term "cup" shall refer to any
container
used to house consumable liquids and solids. Examples of cups include
disposable
cups, small soup bowls and any other similarly shaped container from which one
drinks or eats that is in need of insulation.
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Figure 1 illustrates a transparent view of a foldable air insulating sleeve 20
that includes a substantially tubular outer shell 30, a rim 32, an inner base
34, an outer
base 36, a first base connection strip 38 and a second base connection strip
40. The
substantially tubular outer shell 30 has a first longitudinal fold 42 and a
second
longitudinal fold 44. The first base connection strip 38 has a first base
connection
strip fold 46 and the second base connection strip 40 has a second base
connection
strip fold 48. Finally, the inner base 34 has an inner base fold 50.
Figure 2 illustrates a transparent view of foldable air insulating sleeve 20
with
a cup 60, where the cup 60 has a top rim 62, a bottom edge 64 and a supporting
wall
66. In the illustrated embodiment, the rim 32 of the foldable air insulating
sleeve 20
connects to the top rim 62 of the cup 60. The bottom edge 64 of the cup 60 is
supported by the firmer base 34 of the foldable air insulating sleeve 20.
Once, the cup
60 is connected to the foldable air insulating sleeve 20, a first pocket of
air 68 is
created, which together with a second pocket of air 70, insulates the contents
of the
cup 60. Once connected, a user can carry the cup 60 by grasping the
substantially
tubular outer shell 30.
Figure 3 illustrates a transparent view of a foldable air insulating sleeve in
folded position 80. In this embodiment, inner base 34 is folded along inner
base fold
50, first base connection strip 38 is folded along first base connection strip
fold 46,
second base connection strip 40 is folded along second base connection strip
fold 48
and substantially tubular outer shell 30 is folded along first longitudinal
fold 42 and
second longitudinal fold 44 so that foldable air insulating sleeve in folded
position 80
is in a substantially flat condition. When folded, the inner base fold 50 is
parallel to
the rim 32 and when open, the inner base fold 50 is perpendicular to the rim
32.
With reference now to Figure 4, another embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated as foldable air insulating sleeve 20 with cup 60, where
foldable air
insulating sleeve 20 includes inner base 34 but does not include outer base
36. In this
embodiment, inner base 34 supports both cup 60 and foldable air insulating
sleeve 20.
Inner base 34 also folds along inner base fold 50, first base connection strip
fold 46
and second base connection strip fold 48.
Figure 5 shows an alternative illustration of foldable air insulating sleeve
in
folded position 80 without outer base 36. In this embodiment, inner base 34 is
folded
along inner base fold 50, first base connection strip 38 is folded along a
first base
connection strip fold line 52, second base connection strip 40 is folded along
a second
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base connection strip fold line 54 and substantially tubular outer shell 30 is
folded
along first longitudinal fold 42 and second longitudinal fold 44 so that
foldable air
insulating sleeve in folded position 80 is in a substantially flat condition.
When
folded, inner base fold 50 is parallel to the rim 32 and when open, inner base
fold 50
is perpendicular to rim 32.
With reference now to Figure 6, another embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated as foldable air insulating sleeve 20 with cup 60, where
foldable air
insulating sleeve 20 includes modified inner base 90. Modified inner base 90
comprises a base portion 92 and an opening 94. In this embodiment, cup 60
protrudes
through opening 94 until supporting wall 66 of cup 60 prohibits further travel
or until
bottom edge 64 of cup 60 reaches outer base 36.
Figure 7 shows foldable air insulating sleeve 20 with modified inner base 90
in folded position. Modified inner base 90 folds along first modified inner
base fold
96, second modified inner base fold 98, first base connection strip fold 46
and second
base connection strip fold 48. When folded, first modified inner base fold 96
and
second modified inner base fold 98 are parallel to rim 32 and when open, first
modified inner base fold 96 and second modified inner base fold 98 are
perpendicular
to rim 32.
Figure 8 shows foldable air insulating sleeve 20 with a hollow food container
lid 100 that attaches to top rim 62 of cup 60 and includes an air insulating
chamber
101.
Figure 9 illustrates foldable air insulating sleeve 20 with a hollow cold
drink
lid 102 that attaches to top rim 62 of cup 60 and has a straw opening 104
through
which a straw 106 is placed. Hollow cold drink lid 102 also includes air
insulating
chamber 101 that insulates contents of cup 60.
Figure 10 illustrates foldable air insulating sleeve 20 with a hollow hot
drink
lid 108, a rounded mouth piece 110, a hollow hot drink lid opening 112 and a
cap 114.
Hollow hot drink lid 108 attaches to top rim 62 of cup 60. Cap 114 covers
hollow hot
drink lid opening 112, insulating the contents of cup 60.
Figure 11 illustrates a transparent view of foldable air insulating sleeve 20
with hollow hot drink lid 108 where first pocket of air 68, insulating air
chamber 101
and a third pocket of air 116 insulate the contents of cup 60. In this
illustration, cap
114 is coupled to rounded mouth piece 110, covering hollow hot drink lid
opening
112 and further insulating the contents of cup 60.
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Figure 12 illustrates a cup with a hollow food container lid that attaches to
top
rim of cup and includes an insulating air chamber placed above the lid.
Figure 13 shows a cup with a hollow cold drink lid that attaches to top rim of
cup and has a straw opening through which a straw is placed where the
insulating air
chamber is placed above the lid.
Figure 14 illustrates a cup with a hemispherical hollow cold drink lid that
attaches to top rim of cup and has a straw opening through which a straw is
placed
and an insulating air chamber.
Figure 15 illustrates a cup with a hollow hot drink lid, a rounded mouth
piece,
and a cap. Hollow hot drink lid attaches to top rim of cup and cap covers
hollow hot
drink lid opening. The insulating air chamber is placed above the lid.
Figure 16 shows a cup with an alternate hollow hot drink lid, rounded mouth
piece, and a cap. Hot drink lid attaches to top rim of cup and cap covers
hollow hot
drink lid opening. The insulating air chamber is placed above the lid.
Thus, as discussed herein, the embodiments of the present invention embrace
the field insulating devices for beverage containers. In particular, the
present
invention relates to insulating disposable cups by using air as the insulator.
The
present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing
from its
spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be
considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the
invention is,
therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description.
All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the
claims are
to be embraced within their scope.
What is claimed is:
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