Disposable cup

• US 8,939,349 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dmitry Lerner
• Original Assignee: Dmitry Lerner
• Inventors: Lerner, Dmitry
• Primary Examiner(s): ELKINS, GARY E
• Application Number:
  US13/792,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20130240544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 229/103.1, 229/401, 220/710
• US Class Current: 229/103.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/20 Cutting sheets or blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/265 Drinking cups B65D81/3865 takes precedence, holders for plastic cups A47G23/0208
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2231/005 the container being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 3/06 essentially conical or frusto-conical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 3/28 Other details of walls

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cup with a built-in straw and a method of making it. The cup is made from a blank including a flat body portion having a top and bottom edge and two side edges. A first cut-away along the top edge of the body portion defines two portions along the side edges and extending beyond the top edge. A second cut-away is formed adjacent one of the side edges. The body portion is configured to be folded such that the first extending portion is in registration with the second extending portion, and a first side edge of the body portion engages an outer wall of the body portion while the second side edge engages an inner wall of the body portion, to form a cup body with a built-in straw on an inside wall of the cup body with the second cutaway inside the cup body.

Claims

1. A method for forming a disposable cup with a straw, the method comprising:

providing a blank for a cup including;

a flat body portion having an inner wall, an outer wall, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;

a first cut-away portion of the top edge of the body portion defining a first extending portion along the first side edge having an outer surface, and a second extending portion along the second side edge having an inner surface, both extending portions extending beyond the top edge; and

a second cut-away portion adjacent one of the side edges;

rolling the body portion to form a cup body so that the outer surface of the first extending portion is in registration with the inner surface of the second extending portion;

sealing said inner wall of the first side edge of the body portion to said outer wall of the body portion and sealing said outer wall of the second side edge to said inner wall of the body portion to form the cup body with a built-in straw on the inner wall of the cup body with the second cut-away inside the cup body; and

sealing said first extending portion to said second extending portion along their side edges, thereby forming a built-in straw upper portion extending beyond the top edge of the cup body;

further comprising inserting a stirrer into the straw in the rolled cup body during manufacture, thereby maintaining the straw in an open orientation and preventing crushing or deformation of the straw during packaging and transportation.

2. A method for forming a disposable cup with a straw, the method comprising:

providing a blank for a cup including;

a flat body portion having an inner wall, an outer wall, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;

a first cut-away portion of the top edge of the body portion defining a first extending portion along the first side edge having an outer surface, and a second extending portion along the second side edge having an inner surface, both extending portions extending beyond the top edge; and

a second cut-away portion adjacent one of the side edges;

rolling the body portion to form a cup body so that the outer surface of the first extending portion is in registration with the inner surface of the second extending portion;

sealing said inner wall of the first side edge of the body portion to said outer wall of the body portion and sealing said outer wall of the second side edge to said inner wall of the body portion to form the cup body with a built-in straw on the inner wall of the cup body with the second cut-away inside the cup body;

sealing said first extending portion to said second extending portion along their side edges, thereby forming a built-in straw upper portion extending beyond the top edge of the cup body;

affixing a bottom closure to said body portion; and

inserting a stirrer into the straw in the rolled cup body during manufacture, thereby maintaining the straw in an open orientation and preventing crushing or deformation of the straw during packaging and transportation.