Ribbed sleeve providing insulation
A sleeve and a container are provided that include projections made of a polymer that insulate a hand gripping a container containing a hot beverage. The sleeve can include the projections and it can be manufactured as an integrated part of the container or it can be manufactured separate therefrom.
Hot beverages dispensed in containers, particularly in commercial establishments have presented problems including legal liability issues in the past due to customer scalding and burning caused by the temperature of the beverage served. A need exists for a low cost sleeve or container to hold beverages containing liquids at extreme temperatures likely to cause hand discomfort.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference numerals have been carried forward.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONA beverage container sleeve and beverage container for holding beverages that may be hot are described herein.
The foregoing described embodiments in
Experiments were conducted to measure the temperature properties associated with a paper cup using the foregoing described sleeve 2 in the various embodiments described above in
The above results indicate the “in out” facing ribs as shown in
Experiments were also conducted concerning rib cross-section diameters and rib spacing. The optimum rib spacing was determined for both ribs projecting out from axis 12 (noted as “Outside”) and for ribs projecting in from axis 12 (noted as “Inside”). Rib diameters tested are listed under “diameter range” and rib spacings tested are listed under “spacing range.”
The experiments referenced herein are intended to offer examples for the purpose of further illustrating the advantages of the embodiments but are in no way to be taken as limiting.
The above embodiments have been described in connection with a sleeve 2 which is separated an apart from container 4. However, the embodiments shown can also represent a container with a sleeve integrated within container 4 to form a single unit. Sleeve 2 which in any case, can be made, for instance, according to well known injection molding or thermoforming techniques, can be formed along with container 4 as a single piece or it can be adhered to container 4 with an adhesive.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. For instance, the insulative properties of the ribs and spikes disclosed herein can be used to insulate a hand against cold temperatures as a result of the cup holding cold beverages. Additionally, intersecting projections defining a lattice structure are also contemplated. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A sleeve adapted for use with a beverage container comprising:
- a surface including a plurality of projections arranged in at least one array, each projection from said at least one array extending through a plane substantially tangent to said surface, said sleeve defining a conic section, being made of a polymer and being capable of disposition around a beverage container.
2. A sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is flexible and can be resiliently deformed by hand pressure so as to permit gripping of said beverage container disposed within the sleeve.
3. A sleeve as recited in claim 2 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene or polymethylpentene.
4. A sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein each projection defines a rib and has a cross-section substantially in the shape of at least a portion of a conic section.
5. A sleeve as recited in claim 4 wherein said portion of a conic section is a semi circle.
6. A sleeve as recited in claim 4 wherein said conic section is selected from the group consisting of a circle, ellipse, hyperbola, and parabola.
7. A sleeve as recited in claim 4 wherein each said projection defining a rib extends coextensively with an axis thorough said conic section.
8. A sleeve as recited in claim 4 wherein each projection defining a rib is disposed on said sleeve coaxially with an axis through said conic section.
9. A sleeve as recited in claim 8 wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis.
10. A sleeve as recited in claim 8 wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially away from said axis.
11. A sleeve as recited in claim 8 wherein said projections of one array extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis and wherein said projections in another array extend from said surface in a direction away from said axis.
12. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis.
13. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially away from said axis.
14. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein said projections of one array extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis and wherein said projections in another array extend from said sidewall in a direction away from said axis.
15. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein said projections are spaced apart from one another by about 0.40 of an inch.
16. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein said projections are spaced apart from one another by about 0.40 to about 0.60 of an inch.
17. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein a length of each said projection is defined dimensionally along said axis and wherein said projections are spaced apart from one another from about 0.8 times to about 1.5 times the length.
18. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein a length of each said projection is defined dimensionally along said axis and wherein said projections are of a uniform length.
19. A sleeve as recited in claim 7 wherein a length of each said projection is defined dimensionally along said axis and wherein said projections are of a non-uniform length.
20. A sleeve as recited in claim 4 wherein said cross-section is of a diameter ranging from about 0.20 of an inch to about 0.75 of an inch.
21. A sleeve as recited in claim 18 wherein said projections are spaced apart by about 0.20 of an inch to about 0.75 of an inch.
22. A container including an end and a sidewall terminating at said end, said sidewall including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining an enclosure together with said end, said sidewall further including at least one array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections away from said sidewall disposed around an axis of said enclosure on a section of said container.
23. A container as recited in claim 18 wherein said at least one array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said outer surface.
24. A container as recited in claim 18 wherein said at least one array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said inner surface.
25. A container as recited in claim 18 wherein an array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said outer surface and an array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said inner surface.
26. A container as recited in claim 18 wherein said at least one array is made of a polymer.
27. A container as recited in claim 22 wherein said polymer is polypropylene.
28. A container as recited in claim 18 which further includes a liner consisting of paper or plastic film which lines at least a section of said enclosure.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 29, 2007
Inventors: John Besser (Dallas, TX), Jay Rigby (Richardson, TX)
Application Number: 11/239,517
International Classification: B65D 25/00 (20060101);