CUP SLEEVE

Abstract

In one preferred embodiment, the invention is a cup holder sleeve comprising a quadrilateral planar sheet, defining a top and bottom concave edge parallel to each other, and a first and second edge at opposite ends of the sheet. The sheet is preferably air-laid non-woven cellulose, making it lightweight, biodegradable, heat transfer resistant, and cost-effective to transport.

Description

FIELD

This invention relates to sleeves, and more specifically, sleeves for holding hot beverage cups.

BACKGROUND

Take-out hot beverage or drink service (like tea and coffee) is presently popular in North America. In providing customers with a hot drinks-to-go, service outlets typically provide their hot drinks in hard paper (cardboard-like) cups. These cups are rigid, and can hold hot drinks without soaking-through, but in turn permit significant heat transfer. It is difficult for customers to hold heated cups.

A present solution for dealing with hot cups has been to provide a cardboard sleeve shaped to receive a cup therein. These cardboard sleeves act to dampen heat transfer by providing an extra heat absorbing layer between the cup and a hand. Another solution is for service outlets to provide two cups, one nested in the other. Both of these solutions are problematic.

The former is heavy, slowly biodegradable, costly to transport and store, poorly absorbent, expensive to manufacture, reduces hard paper cup recycling quality, and customers have no incentive to remove the sleeve from the cup for separate disposal. The latter is expensive, slowly biodegradable, and requires carrying a double-sized cup inventory, which also increases transportation, inventory, and storage cost.

What is needed is a sleeve that will insulate a user's hands from heat of a cup, the sleeve being readily recyclable.

SUMMARY

The present invention is, in one preferred embodiment, a cup holder sleeve comprising a quadrilateral planar sheet. The sheet defines a top and bottom concave edge parallel to each other, and a first and second edge at opposite ends of the sheet.

In one embodiment, a cup holder sleeve is disclosed including a quadrilateral planar sheet having a top and bottom edge parallel to each other and having a first and second edge at opposite ends of said sheet.

In another embodiment, a cup holder sleeve is disclosed including a quadrilateral planar sheet having a top and bottom edge parallel to each other and having a first and second edge at opposite ends of said quadrilateral planar sheet. The sheet is made from a non-woven, air laid cellulose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup bearing a sleeve.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a pre-assembled sleeve.

FIG. 2A is a cross-section along the line A-A, showing a non-woven sleeve.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cup and a sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

The sleeve 10 for holding a rigid cup 20 is shown in the FIGS. 1, 2, 2A and 3. The sleeve 10, when unfolded, is a quadrilateral planar sheet. The sheet defines a top 30 and bottom 40 concave edge parallel to each other, and a first 50 and second 60 edge at opposite ends of the sheet.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 10 is made of non-woven cellulose. Non-woven cellulose, relative to cardboard, is light, biodegradable, cheap to transport and store, cheap to manufacture, and does not require separate disposal from its cup 20. The non-woven cellulose is preferably air-laid, to a density of about 100 grams per meter squared (g/m2). Other densities are anticipated so long as the density does not significantly prevent biodegradation or rigidity. For example, in some embodiments and under certain circumstances, the density is varied by as much as ±10% (ten percent). In another example, in some embodiments and under certain circumstances, the density is varied by +50% (fifty percent). For marketability reasons, it is preferred, though not required, that a manufacturer limit variability to only ±5% (five percent). In some embodiments, polyolefins are added to improve desired characteristics, such as stretchability.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 10 thickness is about 2 millimeters (mm). At that thickness, the non-woven cellulose sleeve 10 remains flexible enough to easily wrap a rigid paper cup 20, maintain heat insulating properties, and maintain biodegradability. As with density, various thicknesses are anticipated as long as the thickness does not affected does not significantly prevent biodegradation or rigidity. For example, in some embodiments, the thickness is varied by as much as ±15% (15 percent) while maintaining desired functionality. In another example, the thickness of the sleeve 10 has an upper limit of about 4 mm or more.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 10 has a logo to advertise any selected brand 70/80.

The first 50 and second 60 edges correspond to each other, and are fused together (to form a bond 90). In one embodiment, the first 50 and second 60 edges are ultrasonically fused, to minimize interference with biodegradability, although glue or other substance is also anticipated for the bond 90.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Claims

1. A cup holder sleeve comprising:

a quadrilateral planar sheet defining a top and bottom edge parallel to each other, and a first and second edge at opposite ends of said quadrilateral planar sheet.

2. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is comprised of non-woven cellulose.

3. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is air laid.

4. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is air laid at one hundred grams per meter squared.

5. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the first and second edges each define a corresponding surface for fusing.

6. The cup holder sleeve in claim 5 wherein the first edge surface is fused to the second edge surface, to conform to and grip a cup to be passed through said cup holder sleeve.

7. The cup holder sleeve in claim 6 wherein the first edge surface is ultrasonically fused to the second edge surface to form a bond.

8. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is further comprised of polyolefins to improve stretchability.

9. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the sleeve bears a logo thereon, to advertise at least one select brand.

10. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is two millimeters in thickness.

11. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is approximately two millimeters in thickness.

12. The cup holder sleeve in claim 1 wherein the top and bottom edge are concave.

13. A cup holder sleeve comprising:

a quadrilateral planar sheet comprising a top and bottom edge parallel to each other, and a first and second edge at opposite ends of said quadrilateral planar sheet, the quadrilateral planar sheet comprising a non-woven, air laid cellulose.

14. The cup holder sleeve in claim 13 wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is air laid at one hundred grams per meter squared.

15. The cup holder sleeve in claim 13 wherein the first and second edges are fused together.

16. The cup holder sleeve in claim 15 wherein the first edge surface is fused to the second edge surface, such that the sleeve conforms to a cup to be passed through said cup holder sleeve.

17. The cup holder sleeve in claim 15 wherein the first edge surface is ultrasonically fused to the second edge surface.

18. The cup holder sleeve in claim 13 wherein the sheet further comprised polyolefins to improve stretchability.

19. The cup holder sleeve in claim 13 wherein the sheet is air laid at about one hundred grams per meter squared.

20. A cup holder sleeve comprising:

a quadrilateral planar sheet comprising a top and bottom edge parallel to each other, and a first and second edge at opposite ends of said quadrilateral planar sheet, the quadrilateral planar sheet comprising a non-woven, air laid cellulose, the first and second edges are fused together such that the quadrilateral planar sheet conforms to a cup to be passed through the cup holder sleeve;

wherein the quadrilateral planar sheet is air laid at one hundred grams per meter squared.