Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
Process for the production of a cup and a plurality of cups
The present invention relates to a process for the production of a container,
for example a
cup having a bottom and a sidewall attached to the bottom, wherein the
sidewall preferably
comprises a rolled rim at its upper edge opposite to the bottom. The container
comprises a
single or a plurality of sidewalls, wherein at least one of the sidewalls is
made from a paper
material, a plastic material, PLA, a renewable and/or a biodegradable material
and/or any
other comparable material or a combination thereof.
Such cups are well known in the prior art, wherein all cups known in the prior
art so far have
the drawback to feature only a poor rigidity. Such cups have the problem to be
very unstable,
especially in the region of the upper edge, so that they can easily be pressed
together.
In the past, due to this drawback the used material thickness had to exceed a
lower limit. In
order to provide a sufficiently high rigidity a comparatively thick material
had to be used.
The object of the present invention is to suggest a process and a container
produced by said
process, wherein the container comprises a high inherent rigidity.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by providing a
shaping, for
example an embossment, in the sidewall, wherein the shaping extends at least
partially over
the perimeter of the sidewall, wherein the shaping is inwardly and/or
outwardly directed,
wherein the shaping is compressed in its height.
The disclosure of this embodiment also applies to other embodiments or the
present
invention and vice versa.
Due to the compressed shaping, for example an embossment, the cup can only be
pressed
together in case a very high force is applied to the cup.
The present invention relates to a container. Particularly, the container is a
cup, in which
beverages, especially hot beverages such as coffee or tea or food, especially
soup, mash or
the like, can be served. This container is preferably made of paper, thick
paper, cardboard,
fiber-materials, plastic-material, PLA, materials made from renewable and/or
biodegradable
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raw materials or a combination thereof. More preferably, the material is
plastically
deformable, for example embossable. All parts of the inventive containers are
made from this
material, whereas the individual parts of the container can be made from
different materials.
Especially the surfaces of the parts of the container that are subjected to a
liquid and/or
vapor are preferably provided with means, especially a coating, an
impregnation, a film or the
like which makes these parts at least temporarily resistant against for
example humidity,
water, aqueous solutions, oil and/or fat or a combination thereof. Preferably
the above
mentioned means are also heat sealable.
The container according to this present invention comprises a sidewall, which
is preferably
conically shaped and which more preferably has at its upper end a rolled rim.
The sidewall is
preferably made from a flat segment, which is subsequently formed, preferably
rolled, into its
conical shape. Preferably at its lower end, the sidewall is connected to a
bottom in order to
close the container at the base. The bottom is preferably a separate part
which is attached,
more preferably glued or heat sealed to the lower end of the sidewall of the
container. The
sidewall and the base define a filling-volume, which can be filled with a
product.
This shaping can be produced by any technique known by a person skilled in the
art, e. g. by
folding or any other method of plastic deformation. Preferably, the shaping is
inserted into the
flat segment before it is formed, e. g. rolled into the final shape of the
sidewall. More
preferably, the shaping is an embossment, which is produced for example by
applying locally
pressure to the sidewall and deforming the material of the sidewall
plastically. The shaping
can have any shape known by a person skilled in the art. However, preferably,
it is
compressible, at least partially, especially in case an axial-force is applied
to the sidewall.
Preferably the shaping is U-shaped or has partially the shape of a segment of
a circle. The
shaping can be directed inwardly, i.e. towards the filling-volume of the
container and/or
outwardly, i.e. away from the filling-volume of the container, whereas an
outwardly directed
shaping is preferred, because it does not restrict the filling volume of the
inventive container.
The shaping can alternate between an inward direction and an outward
direction. This
alternation is preferably harmonic. The shaping is preferably formed into at
least one layer of
the sidewall such that an edge of each shaping touches an opposite segment of
the same
shaping and/or that both edges of each shaping touch each other and are
joined.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shaping, the
shaping-dies
and/or the compressing tools are capable to generate a void during its
formation and/or
compression. By means of such a void volume it is possible to realize a very
good insulating
effect.
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According to the present invention, it is, furthermore, preferred that the
shaping, the shaping-
dies and/or the compressing tools provide capability to generate a flat
profile after the
compression. Thereby, an exceptionally high rigidity is realized. Besides, the
flat profile has
the advantage that it can be used as a stop or spacer.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shaping is
shaped such
that a rib is formed during to the compression. By means of a rib the rigidity
of the cup can be
maximized such that an undesirable crushing of the cup is avoided.
According to the present invention it is, furthermore, preferred that the
shaping is heated up
for example by means of ultrasonic sound, laser or any other heat sources and,
thereby,
simplify for the compression. It has turned out that a heated shaping can be
compressed with
little effort.
According to the present invention, it is, furthermore, preferred that the
edges of the shaping
are joined together preferably by means of heat bonding and/or cold bonding,
by means of
sealing, gluing or by any other joining technique, whereas also mechanical
joining techniques
are included. Thereby, it is assured that the compression does not resume at
least partially
its uncompressed state.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a coating is
applied at least in
the region of the edges of the shaping, wherein the coating preferably
comprises a heat-
sealable material to join the edges.
The coating is, e. g. polyethylene. Thereby, the coated region is not only
impermeable to
fluids but it is also possible to seal for example the edges of the compressed
shaping
together. Preferably, the sealable material is produced from renewable
resources.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the coating is applied to the entire surface
or to parts of the
surface, at least the surface that is exposed to water, a watery substance,
oil and/or
humidity. A coating that is applied on the entire surface can also provide a
protection against
fluids and moisture.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shaping is
compressed
such that the edges are closely spaced to each other and/or lie on top of each
other and
preferably form a flat surface.
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Due to this compression and the joining an even surface of the sidewall
between the edges
of the shaping is realized. If these joined edges are formed on the inner
surface of the cup, it
will be avoided that a filling material, especially a liquid, percolates into
the compressed
shaping.
According to the present invention, it is preferred that the compressed
shaping forms a rib
sticking out inwardly or outwardly, wherein the rib comprise void volumes or
wherein the ribs
form a flat surface. Thereby, it is possible that the shaping can be used for
single-sidewall-
cups or can be used for the inner-sidewall or the outer-sidewall of multi-
sidewall-cups.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred
that the
compressed shaping serves as insulation or as a spacer for another sidewall,
preferably an
even sidewall. Thereby, it is possible to achieve an excellent insulation that
otherwise could
only be realized in extremely cost-intensive process steps.
According to the present invention, it is, furthermore, preferred that the
compressed shaping
increases the rigidity of the sidewall. Thereby, it is possible that the
sidewall is exceptionally
solid and rigid without the need to considerably increase the amount of used
material.
According to the present invention, it is, furthermore, preferred that the
compressed shaping
forms a high-frictional grip area.
Thereby, it is possible that even for a single-sidewall cup a well-insulated
and grippable grip
area is realized, wherein a slipping is effectively avoided due to the surface
property and
surface texture.
According to the present invention, it is furthermore preferred that the cup
is made from a
plastic-, a paper material, carton and/or any other fiber material that can be
embossed and
corn pressed.
According to the present invention, it is furthermore preferred that the
shapings are formed
as circumferential rings, ring segments, spirals, spiral segments or the like.
Thereby, it is
possible to realize many different optical and technical embodiments.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred
that an shaping
being at least partially circumferential is arranged close to the bottom and
serves as stacking
support, wherein the shaping is preferably inwardly directed.
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Using such a stacking support, that is usually arranged on the sidewall, it is
possible to avoid
that a plurality of cups stacked into one another are pushed together in such
a way that they
can be hardly or not separated from each other anymore. Such a stacking
support is
especially advantageous, if a stack of cups is intended to be separated from
each other
automatically. According to the present invention, it is preferred that the
upper edge or the
lower edge of this shaping is pulled further inwards than the other edge.
Thereby, it is
possible to form a ledge which leads to a tapering of the cup.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred
that a plurality of
shapings are used which are arranged side by side in vertical direction of the
container,
wherein towards the bottom the shapings have preferably a smaller radial
extension.
Thereby, the stackability is significantly improved and/or the stacking height
is reduced.
According to the present invention, it is furthermore preferred that the cup
comprises a
second sidewall, wherein the second sidewall can be single-layered or multi-
layered, wherein
the second sidewall is wrapped around the first sidewall or wherein the second
sidewall is
pulled over the first sidewall. The two sidewalls are preferably attached to
each other, for
example by gluing, sealing or mechanically. Thereby, it is possible that the
outer sidewall
snaps into place and is, thereby, tightly attached to the inner sidewall.
According to another inventive or preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a container
with a first sidewall and a bottom is provided, which comprises a fill line
which is a shaping.
The disclosure of this embodiment also applies to other embodiments or the
present
invention and vice versa.
According to this embodiment of the present invention, the first sidewall
comprises a fill line,
which is a shaping. This shaping is a plastic shaping, preferably an
embossment, in the first
sidewall. Preferably, this shaping extends at least partially, preferably
entirely, around the
inner or outer circumference of the first sidewall. The shaping can be
directed inwardly, i.e.
towards the filling-volume of the container or outwardly, i.e. away from the
filling-volume of
the container, whereas an outwardly directed shaping is preferred, because it
does not
restrict the filling volume of the inventive container. The height of the
shaping at the sidewall
will be chosen such, that the filling line represents a desired filling
volume. The inventive
container can comprise two or more shapings and thus two or more filling
lines, for example
a lower one which indicated a volume, which has to be filled with a powder
and/or pellets and
a higher one that indicate the amount of liquid that has to be added to the
powder and/or
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pellets. The shaping can extend around the entire circumference or can extend
only over a
segment of the circumference of the sidewall of the container.
This shaping can be produced by any technique known by a person skilled in the
art, e. g. by
folding or any other method of plastic deformation. Preferably, the shaping is
inserted into a
cardboard segment before it is formed, e. g. rolled into the final shape of
the sidewall. More
preferably, the shaping is an embossment, which is produced for example by
applying locally
pressure on the sidewall and deforming the material of the sidewall
plastically. The shaping
can have any shape known by a person skilled in the art. However, preferably,
it is
compressible, at least partially, especially in case an axial-force is applied
to the sidewall.
Preferably the shaping is U-shaped or has partially the shape of a segment of
a circle.
In a preferred embodiment, the shaping is compressed in its height extension,
i.e. after the
compression of the shaping, the sidewall is reduced in its height. Due to the
compression of
the shaping in its height, preferably the radial extension of the shaping
increases at least
partially. More preferably, the compression of the shaping is elastic, i.e. as
soon as the
deformation force is removed, the shaping tries to resume, at least partially,
its original
shape. Thus, in this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
deformed shaping
functions as a spring.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flanges and/or
edges of the
shaping are bonded, preferably glued or sealed, together after they have been
compressed.
This preferred embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the
shaping is at
least partially closed and that the fill line appears as a line with a small
width.
In another preferred embodiment, the inventive container comprises a second
sidewall,
which is preferably arranged around the first sidewall. This second sidewall
is preferably
conically shaped and is more preferably made from a flat cardboard segment,
which is
subsequently formed, especially rolled, around the circumference of the first
sidewall.
Preferably, the second sidewall is connected to the first sidewall and/or the
base at one,
preferable two or more connection points or connection areas. This connection
can be purely
mechanical, based on adhesion or a combination thereof. Preferably, the two
sidewalls are
glued or sealed together.
The shaping functions in this preferred embodiment preferably also a spacer
between the
first and the second sidewall, especially to maintain an air gap between the
first and the
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second sidewall, even if the second sidewall is subjected to pressure, for
example by the
hand of a user.
The second sidewall can be utilized to maintain the shapings in their
compressed state, so
that the fill line appears as a fine line. Thereto, the two sidewalls are
preferably connected in
two or more different areas, especially at two or more different heights of
the container. The
shaping itself or other parts of the first sidewall can be connected to the
second sidewall. The
second sidewall hinders the compressed shaping to resume its original shape
after the
compression force has been released.
The inventions are now explained in further detail according to the figures.
This explanation
does not limit the scope of protection. The explanation apply to all
inventions, respectively.
Fig. 1 shows a cup comprising three outwardly directed shapings.
Fig. 2 shows a cup according to Fig. 1 with compressed shapings.
Fig. 3 shows a detailed cutaway view of a compressed shaping.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the production process for a cup
comprising at least
one inwardly directed shaping according to the present invention.
Fig. 5 shows a cutaway view of different compressed shapings, one with a void
and one a
flat ring.
Fig. 6 shows a drawing of a cup comprising a plurality of outwardly directed
shaping and one
inwardly directed shaping which serves as stacking support, wherein the
outwardly
directed shapings are offset from one another in vertical direction.
Fig. 7 shows a cutaway view of two cups stacked into one another.
Fig. 8 shows a first embodiment of the inventive container.
Fig. 9 shows the compression of the shaping.
Fig. lOshows an inventive container with compressed shapings.
Figure 1 shows a cup 1 with a sidewall 2 and a bottom 3. The upper edge of the
sidewall 2
opposite to the bottom 3 comprises a rolled rim 4. According to the
illustrated embodiment,
three outwardly directed and circumferential shapings 5 are arranged below the
rolled rim 4.
The shapings 5 are embossments. According to the present invention, the
shapings 5 are
compressed in height. In the present case the compressed shapings form
outwardly directed
flat rings 6 as illustrated in Figure 2. The person skilled in the art
understands that there can
be more or less shapings 5 and that the shapings can be directed inward and/or
outwardly.
The sidewall 2 is made of paper material or carton and comprises a coating of
polyethylene 7
on the inner surface. During the compression of the shapings 5 preferably at
least this
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coating 7 is heated up so that, in the region of the edges 8 of the shapings
5, the edges 8 of
each shaping 5 are heat-sealed together. It is possible to also use other well-
known sealable
materials, such as sealable materials produced from renewable resources, for
the coating 7.
The coating 7 can be applied on the entire surface or on parts of the surface
of the sidewall
of the container. By applying a coating 7 on the entire surface it is possible
to avoid that the
sidewall 2 is moistened by liquid filling material. The edges 8 can also be
glued or
mechanically attached to each other.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the sidewall 2 is at least partially made of
plastic, PLA and/or
renewable and/or biodegradable resources.
Due to the bonding of the edges 8 it is avoided that the shapings 5 which are
compressed to
rings 6 reopen. Moreover, a comparatively even surface is also realized in the
region of the
rings 6 on the inner surface of the cup 1. It is avoided that filling
material, for example a
beverage like coffee tea or a cold drink or a food like soup, percolates into
the rings 6.
Furthermore, the rings 6 are, thereby, hermetically sealed. During the
compression, the rings
6 are usually not pressed together completely flat so that a void volume 9 is
formed inside
the rings 6. Besides, it is preferred that the rings 6 are pressed together
completely flat by
means of an appropriate compressing tool.
The rings 6 stiffen the sidewall 2 of the cup 1. An unintentional compression
while holding the
cup 1 is avoided. Due to this constructively increased rigidity it is,
furthermore, possible to
reduce the material thickness of the sidewall 2. Moreover, it is possible to
use a softer
material.
The rings 6 not only stiffen the sidewall 2 but also serve as a very good
insulation, especially
for single-sidewall-cups 1. The void volumes 9, thereby, serve as very good
heat insulation.
Thereby, it is possible to comfortably hold cups filled with hot or cold
beverages. Besides,
due to the texture formed by the rings 6 a very good slip resistance is
provided, It is assured
that the cup 1 does not slip unintentionally from the hands of a user.
The rings 6 can also serve as spacer for another sidewall 2. For example, it
is possible that
the sidewall comprises a second preferably outer sidewall. Three or more
sidewall-
constructions are also preferred. Furthermore, it is possible that both the
inner sidewall and
the outer sidewall comprise shapings 5 and/or rings 6. Furthermore, it is
preferred that, e. g.,
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the rings of the outer sidewall are inwardly directed and the rings of the
inner sidewall are
outwardly directed.
The joint of the edges 8 cannot only be realized by hot sealing, but also by
bonding or the
like. For this purpose, it is possible to apply a hot or cold glue in the
region of the edges 8,
wherein the hot or cold glue generates the joint during or after the
compression. A
combination of sealable material and glue is also preferred.
By using an excess of sealable material and/or glue it is possible to realize
an additional
smoothing of the junction of two edges 8.
To compress the shapings 5 it is possible to heat up the shaping using, e. g.,
ultrasonic
sound, laser or other heat sources. The forces required for the compression
can, thereby, be
reduced. Furthermore, a sealable material is already softened so that a joint
is generated as
soon as two edges 8 touch each other.
Preferably, prints or figurations can be applied on the outside of the cup 1.
Preferably the shapings 5 have 3 height and 2 mm depth. Other dimensions are
possible and
depend on the intended rigidity and the used material.
Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the production process for a cup according
to the
present invention. The sidewall 42 of the depicted cup 41 comprises a
plurality of inwardly
directed shapings 45, here embossments. One of these shapings 45 is arranged
close to the
bottom 3. This bottommost shaping 45 compressed to a ring 46 and serves as
stacking
support.
In case a plurality of cups 41 is stacked into one another, the lower edge of
these cups
pushes against this ring 46. Thus, it is avoided that the upper cup is further
pushed down.
Thereby, it is prevented that cups stacked into one another strongly adhere to
each other
and cannot or can only hardly be denested.
It is preferred that the other shapings 45 illustrated in this embodiment are
compressed as
well. Furthermore, it is preferred, that these shapings 45 are outwardly
directed.
Any combination of the two illustrated embodiments such as any arrangements 5
and 45,
respectively, on the sidewall 2 and 42, respectively, are conceivable as well.
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The sidewall 2 and 42, respectively, can be made from a different material. It
is conceivable
that plastic or any other fiber material is used.
It is possible that the sealable material is any heat-sealable coating, a
sealing wax or the like.
Sealable materials produced from renewable resources are conceivable. Among
these
materials are PLA or the like.
It is, furthermore, conceivable, that the shapings 5 and 45, respectively,
only comprise
segments capable to form a ring 6 together. Besides, it is conceivable that
the shapings 5
and 45, respectively, are spiral-shaped, sectionally spiral-shaped or comprise
a ring-shaped
part.
Furthermore, it is conceivable, that a plurality of shapings 5 and 45,
respectively, arranged
preferably in the upper region of the cup vary in position and height.
Thereby, shapings being
positioned closer to the bottom are arranged further inside and comprise a
lower depth,
respectively. Due to this construction as illustrated in Fig. 6 the
stackability of a plurality of
cups is improved. The cups can be pushed into one another so that the stacking
height is
minimized. However, the cups can still be easily denested.
Furthermore, it is conceivable that an outer and optionally multi-layered
sidewall 2 is
wrapped around the cup and locks with the shapings 5 and 45, respectively. It
is also
possible that the outer sidewall is pulled over the cup.
Furthermore, it is conceivable that the inner sidewall comprises a flat
surface whereas an
outer sidewall comprises a or a multitude of shapings 5 and 45.
Figure 8 depicts on the left hand side the inventive container 1 and shows on
the right hand
side an enlarged partial view of a first sidewall 2 of the container 1. The
first sidewall 2
comprises at its upper end a rim 4 and is at its lower end connected to a base
8. The first
sidewall 2 and the base 8 define the filling volume 14 of the inventive
container. The first
sidewall 2 is, in the present case, made from a flat cardboard-segment, which
has been
formed in the shape of a conus and whose opposite ends have been glued
together. Near its
top, the first sidewall comprises a shaping 5, which is directed outwardly,
i.e. away from the
filling volume 14. This shaping has been incorporated into the first sidewall
plastically, i.e. by
plastic deformation, for example by embossment. Parts of the inner surface of
the shaping 5,
especially edges 11 can be seen by the user of the container and represents a
filling line 12.
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The height H in which the filling line 12 is arranged, can be freely chosen
according to the
desired filling volume. The inventive container can comprise two or more
shapings and thus
two or more filling lines. In the present case, the shaping 5 has been
compressed after it has
been inserted into the first sidewall 2 and the flanks 13 and/or the edges 11
have been
bonded, preferably glued or sealed to maintain the shaping in its compressed
state. Due to
the compression of the shaping 5 and its fixture in the compressed state, the
filling line is
very fine and preferably at least only very little liquid enters into the
shaping. The filling line
12 does not reduce the inner diameter of the inventive container.
The compression of the shaping 5 is depicted in figures 9a ¨ 9c. These figures
show the
compression of the height h of the shaping 5, 10. Figure 9a shows the shaping,
here an
embossment 5, after it has been plastically introduced into the first sidewall
2. This shaping is
subsequently compressed by the axial force F, so that the height h of the
shaping decreases.
Figure 9b shows a first state of compression, which can be however the final
state. Figure 9c
depicts, in comparison to figure 9b, a further compression of the embossment
5, in which the
edges 12 of the shaping 5 lie on top of each other or at least adjacent to
each other. In this
state, the height h of the shaping is, in comparison to the embodiment
according to figure 9b,
even further reduced. In order to maintain the shaping 5 in the compressed
state, the flanks
13 and/or the edges 11 of the shaping can be attached to each other,
preferably glued or
sealed.
An alternative embodiment of the inventive container is depicted in figure 10.
Here, the
container comprises two shapings 5, 10 and thus two filling lines 12. The
lower filling line can
be utilized to indicate an amount of powder or pellets to be added to the
container. The upper
filling line indicates the amount of liquid to be added to the container. The
second sidewall 15
is utilized to maintain the shapings 5, 10 in their compressed state as
depicted in figures 9b
or 9c. This is done by compressing the shapings and holding the shaping in
their
compressed state, while the second sidewall is connected to the first sidewall
either directly
at the tip of the shaping 5, 10 or, as here depicted in figure 3, at the rim 4
and at the lower
end of the first sidewall 2. As soon as this connection 16, 17 is ridged, the
shapings 9, 10 are
maintained in their compressed state by the second sidewall 3. The shapings 5,
10 function
here also as spacers between the first and the second sidewall, so that an air
gap 18
between the two sidewalls is maintained, even if pressure is applied to the
second sidewall,
for example by a user.
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List of reference signs
1 container, cup
2 sidewall, first sidewall
3 bottom
4 rolled rim
shaping, embossment
6 compressed shaping, ring, flat ring
7 coating
8 edge of the shaping
9 void, void volume
second shaping, second embossment
11 edge of the shaping
12 natural fill line
13 flanks
14 filling volume
sidewall, second sidewall
16 connection
17 connection
41 container, cup
42 sidewall of the container, cup
45 shaping, embossment
46 compressed shaping, ring, flat ring
F compression force for the shaping, axial force
h height of the shaping
H height of the container, in which the shaping has been arranged
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