Unitary double walled container and method for making

Abstract

A single-piece seamless construction container formed from a thermoformable material, the container including a vessel, at least one wing, and at least one hinge coupling the wing to the vessel. The wings comprise a patterned surface, although only the vessel, or the wings and the vessel may also be configured to include a patterned surface. The wings are configured to wrap about the container with the patterned surface serving to trap air between an outer surface of the vessel and an inner surface of the wing. The trapped air and the wing forms an insulative air gap between a surface of the container and the wing. The container may be nestably stacked in a wing open or wing closed position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to the art of single piece containers, and more particularly to thermally insulated single piece seamless construction containers. [0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art [0004] When a consumer or user carries a disposable paper cup or a single walled plastic container containing coffee, tea, or other food products commonly sold and dispensed, in many instances the temperature of the contents of the container is such as to create discomfort in the hands and fingers of the holder. That is, paperboard and certain plastic cups typically do not inherently provide sufficient thermal insulation or moisture barrier properties when filled with hot or cold beverages or other food products. The transfer of temperature from the liquid or contents through the container to the holder's hand can cause handling and consumption problems. [0005] To combat these problems, convenience stores and fast food r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention relates to a single piece seamless construction container and method of making therein, advantageously configured to provide a sturdy construction and an insulative layer for protecting the holder's hand and fingers from discomfort due to hot or cold temperature transfer through the sidewall of the container. In general, this is achieved by providing a single piece seamless construction container, and preferably two wings coupled with the container, although one or a plurality of wings may be used. The wings are configured to wrap about the container, preferably spaced apart from a surface of the container, and are adapted to form an insulative air gap between the surface of the container and the wing.

[0012] Alternatively, the patterned surface may be thermoformed into the container, allowing the wing to remain smooth. This creates a smooth insulative outer surface for printing of logos and other indicia.

[0014] The container according to the present invention is further uniquely adapted to efficiently nestably stack in either a wing open or wing closed position in order to promote efficient bulk transportation of the containers to wholesale, retail, or other end users. The containers can readily nest without becoming wedged or telescoped together.

[0015] It is a further object of the invention to improve the gripability of a cup or container.

[0016] Yet another object of the invention is to thermally insulate the hand and fingers of a user from the liquid or food product held in a container.

Problems solved by technology

When a consumer or user carries a disposable paper cup or a single walled plastic container containing coffee, tea, or other food products commonly sold and dispensed, in many instances the temperature of the contents of the container is such as to create discomfort in the hands and fingers of the holder.

That is, paperboard and certain plastic cups typically do not inherently provide sufficient thermal insulation or moisture barrier properties when filled with hot or cold beverages or other food products.

The transfer of temperature from the liquid or contents through the container to the holder's hand can cause handling and consumption problems.

Both of these approaches tend to be expensive.

One characteristic common to most or all of these sleeves is the fact that they are opaque and, for this reason, obscure the trade dress and ornamental designs which the manufacturers of the hot drink cups take pains to provide.

Another general problem with certain drink cups is that they are constructed with two pieces of plastic that have to be formed and bonded together.

This conventional two-piece cup construction presents the problem of weakening of the lower bottom edge of the cup due to stresses that are induced by the heat and pressures involved in bonding the bottom wall disc to the side wall flange.

Weakening of the annular bottom edge of the cup may, in turn, cause it to rupture thereby spilling the cup contents.

The possibility of rupturing the bottom edge of the cup is especially acute if the cup is dropped some distance when filled with liquid or other food products.

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