Cup holder
A cup holder comprising a body having a top opening and a bottom opening adapted to substantially encircle an outer surface of a cup, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of folding features capable of folding portions of the body at the folding features, wherein the folded features create primary air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup when the cup holder is coupled to the cup. The air passageways reduce heat transfer from the cup to the outer surface of the body. In one embodiment, at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body. In another embodiment, the material thickness at the folding feature is less than the material thickness of the body. Preferably, a plurality of polygonal indentations are configured in the body.
The present invention relates generally to a cup holder and in particular, to a cup holder adapted to be coupled to a cup and having air passageways for effective heat transfer from the cup.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany different cup holders are present in the market. However, the existing cup holders trap heat in between the cup and the cup holder and thereby do not provide adequate heat transfer. What is needed is a cup holder allowing more effective heat transfer from the cup.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The band 102 of the cup holder 100 preferably includes several pleats or folding features 110 therein as shown in
As shown in
The air passageway is defined herein as the area where the interior surface of the cup holder 100 does not contact the outer surface of the cup 99. Each air passageway 118 preferably extends from the top surface 104 to the bottom surface 106 and provides a significant non-contacting surface between the cup 99 and the cup holder 100. The air passageways 118 allow heat to transfer from the cup 99 while minimizing the amount of heat transferred to the cup holder 100. The air passageways 110 also provide an insulating layer between the user's hand and the cup 99. In addition, the several distinct surfaces provide an enhanced gripping ability for the user while providing an adequate amount of surface on the interior of the cup 99 to the cup holder 100. In one embodiment, the air passageways 118 are shown to be different sizes as in
In one embodiment, each pleat 110 is formed by scoring or embossing a line 110 into the body 102. In another embodiment, the pleats 110 are formed into the body 102 as perforations at the desired pleating locations. In another embodiment, the pleats 110 are formed into the body 102, whereby the body has a lesser thickness of material along the desired pleating location. Thus, the body 102 in general can be formed to have a certain thickness, whereas the areas where the pleats 110 exist have a smaller thickness. This difference in material thickness naturally causes the body 102 to fold at the areas where the material thickness is less. It is contemplated that any other known method is alternatively utilized to form the pleats 110 in the body 102.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the vertical grooves 208, 209 are continuous from the top surface 204 to the bottom surface 206 and have a substantially constant depth dimension therebetween. In another embodiment, the vertical grooves 208, 209 are non-continuous from the top surface 204 to the bottom surface 206 and have a non-constant depth dimension. For instance, the cup holder of the present invention includes shaped indentations 302, 304 (
Another embodiment of the present cup holder includes detachable body portions. Referring to
The grooves 304 preferably form individual concave air passageways with the outer surface 98 of the cup 99 and function in a similar manner as in the embodiments shown in
The increased area of each air passageway from the bottom surface 310 to the top surface 308 allows a greater amount of heat to be dissipated from the cup 99 than the grooves in
The cup holder of the present invention is preferably manufactured by providing a flat sheet of paper. The paper is preferably cut into a band 102 wherein the top surface 104 and the bottom surface 106 are arc-shaped as well as the opposite ends 108, 110. The band is preferably embossed in either one or both surfaces to form the desired number of pleats 100. Alternatively, the thickness of the band 102 is controlled such that the material thickness is less along the contour of where the pleat 110 is desired. If desired, the band 102 is subjected to a press or embossing technique to corrugate the band 102 to have a series of alternating concave and convex grooves. In addition, if desired, one or more perforations 218 (
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims and their equivalence.
Claims
1. A cup holder comprising:
- a. a body having a top opening and a bottom opening adapted to substantially encircle an outer surface of a cup, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface, and
- b. a plurality of folding features capable of folding portions of the body at the folding features, wherein the folded features create primary air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup when the cup holder is fully coupled to the cup.
2. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the body forms at least four distinct sides in the outer surface when coupled to the cup.
3. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the air passageways reduce heat transfer from the cup to the outer surface of the body.
4. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body.
5. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein at least one folding feature is perforated into the body.
6. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the body has a first material thickness, the body having a second material thickness at the folding features, wherein the second material thickness is less than the first material thickness.
7. The cup holder according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the inner surface of the body.
8. The cup holder according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the outer surface of the body.
9. A cup holder adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a cup comprising: a body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the body having a plurality of folding features configured to form a plurality of primary air passageways between the interior surface and the outer surface when the cup holder is fully coupled to the cup, wherein the primary air passageways reduce heat transfer from the cup to the exterior surface.
10. The cup holder according to claim 9 an exterior surface having a plurality of first grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending between a top edge and a bottom edge of the body, the first grooves each having a substantially constant depth dimension and characterized as having a corresponding first protrusion along the interior surface.
11. The cup holder according to claim 10 wherein the interior surface further comprises a plurality of second grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge, the second grooves located adjacent to the first grooves and having a substantially constant depth dimension, the second grooves each characterized as having a corresponding second protrusion along the exterior surface.
12. The cup holder according to claim 9 further comprising at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body between the two perforated lines is removable at the perforated lines.
13. The cup holder according to claim 9 wherein at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body.
14. The cup holder according to claim 9 wherein at least one folding feature is perforated into the body.
15. The cup holder according to claim 9 wherein the body has a first material thickness, the body having a second material thickness at the folding features, wherein the second material thickness is less than the first material thickness.
16. The cup holder according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the interior surface of the body.
17. The cup holder according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the exterior surface of the body
18. A cup holder adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a cup comprising:
- a. a body having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- b. an exterior surface; and
- c. an interior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the cup, wherein the body is configured to have a plurality of folding features such that the body is capable of folding at the folding features to form at least four outer surfaces when fully coupled to the cup.
19. The cup holder according to claim 18 having a plurality of interior surface grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge.
20. The cup holder according to claim 19 wherein the outer surface further comprises a plurality of outer surface grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge, the outer surface grooves located adjacent to the inner surface grooves, the outer surface grooves characterized as corresponding inner surface protrusions, wherein at least some of the inner surface protrusions are in contact with the outer surface of the cup.
21. The cup holder according to claim 18 further comprising at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body between the two perforated lines is removable at the perforated lines.
22. The cup holder according to claim 18 wherein at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body.
23. The cup holder according to claim 18 wherein at least one folding feature is perforated into the body.
24. The cup holder according to claim 18 wherein the body has a first material thickness, the body having a second material thickness at the folding features, wherein the second material thickness is less than the first material thickness.
25. The cup holder according to claim 18 further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the interior surface of the body.
26. The cup holder according to claim 18 further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the exterior surface of the body.
27. A method of forming a cup holder adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a cup comprising:
- a. providing a body having a top opening and a bottom opening adapted to substantially encircle an outer surface of a cup, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface, and
- b. forming a plurality of folding features in the body, each folding feature capable of folding portions of the body at the folding features, wherein the folded features adapted to create primary air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup when fully coupled to the cup.
Type: Application
Filed: May 19, 2004
Publication Date: Nov 24, 2005
Inventor: Brian Morrison (Miami, FL)
Application Number: 10/849,475