Insulated container, method of fabricating same and apparatus for fabricating

• US 20060237465A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seda S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Seda S.p.A.
• Inventors: D'Amato, Gianfranco
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/592.270
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0072 Double walled vessels comprising a single insulating layer between inner and outer walls
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81 General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps holding or clamping means for handling purposes B29C65/7841
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3869 formed with double walls, i.e. hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3874 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 by folding

Abstract

The invention relates to an insulated container for hot drinks or the like comprising an inner cup having a generally frusto-conical cup body and a generally frusto-conical outer shell. The cup is seated within the shell so that a contact path is disposed near the upper edge of the shell, along which contact path the outer surface of the cup body and inner surface of the shell are in contact. At least one bonding spot and/or bonding area for bonding said shell to said cup body is locally formed within said contact path.

Claims

1. An insulated container for hot drinks or the like, comprising:

a) an inner cup having a generally frusto-conical cup body;

b) a generally frusto-conical outer shell;

c) a bonding material on at least one of the inside of said shell and the outside of said cup body;

d) said cup being seated within said shell so that the bonding material is disposed in a path near the upper edge of the shell in which the outer surface of the cup body and the inner surface of the shell are in contact; and

e) at least one bond fastening said shell to said cup body locally is formed within said contact path.

2. The insulated container according to claim 1, characterized in that said contact path is an annular path.

3. The insulated container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a number of bonds are formed along the contact path, all separated from each other by bond free areas in said contact path.

4. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that bonds are arranged side by side and separated from each other in horizontal and/or vertical directions within the contact path.

5. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that bonds are evenly distributed in circumferential direction in the contact path.

6. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact path completely encircles the cup body and shell.

7. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that said contact path is formed between an annular upper wall section of the cup body and an upper, essentially cylindrical section of said shell.

8. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that said bonds are arranged immediately adjacent to a lower edge of an annular upper wall section of the cup body, where an upper shoulder is formed.

9. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that cup body and/or shell are made of paper board coated with a thermo sealable plastic coating or thermo sealable varnish coating.

13. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that bonds are arranged side by side and separated from each other in horizontal and/or vertical directions within the contact path.

14. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that bonding spots and/or bonding areas are evenly distributed in circumferential direction of the contact path.

15. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact path is completely circulating cup body and shell.

16. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that said contact path is formed between an annular upper wall section of the cup body and an upper, essentially cylindrical section of said shell.

17. The insulated container according to claim 16, characterized in that said bonding spots and/or bonding areas are arranged immediately adjacent to a lower edge of said annular upper wall section of the cup body, where an upper shoulder is formed.

18. The insulated container according to claim 3, characterized in that cup body and/or shell are made of paper board coated with a thermo sealable plastic coating or thermo sealable varnish coating.

10. An insulated container for hot drinks or the like, comprising:

a) an inner cup having a generally frusto-conical cup body;

b) a generally frusto-conical outer shell;

c) bonding material on at least one of the inside of said shell and the outside of said cup body;

d) said cup being seated within said shell so that the bonding material is disposed in a path near the upper edge of the shell in which the outer surface of the cup body and the inner surface of the shell are in contact; and

e) at least one bonding spot and/or bonding area for bonding said shell to said cup body by said plastic coating is locally formed within said contact path.

11. The insulated container according to claim 10, characterized in that said contact path is an annular path.

12. The insulated container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a number of bonding spots and/or bonds bonding areas are formed along the contact path, all separated from each other by bonding free parts of said contact path.

19. A method of fabricating an insulated container for hot drinks or the like, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a generally frusto-conical shell;

b) providing a bonding material on the inside of said shell and/or on the outside of a generally frusto-conical cup;

c) inserting said cup into said shell until the outside of the cup wall seats against the bonding material along a contact path, and

d) pressing shell and cup wall together at least at one bonding spot and/or one bonding area which are localized within said contact path.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein shell and cup wall are pressed together forming a plurality of bonding spots and/or bond areas to locally bond said shell to said cup, said bonding spots and/or areas separated from each other by unbonded areas along said contact path.

21. The method according to one of the claim 19 or 20, characterized in that an annular or first member with at least one radially displaceable or protruding pressing element is positioned inside the cup body, which pressing member presses against an external or second member to press the walls of the cup body and the shell together by both members to form one or more bonding spots and/or bonding areas.

22. A method of fabricating an insulated container for hot drinks or the like, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a generally frusto-conical shell;

b) heating a thermo sealable plastic coating provided on the inside of said shell and/or on the outside of a generally frusto-conical cup to its melting point;

c) inserting said cup into said shell until the outside of the cup wall seats against the melted plastic along a contract path, and

d) pressing shell and cup wall together at least at one bonding spot and/or one bonding area which are localized within said contact path.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein shell and cup wall are pressed together forming a plurality of bonding spots and/or bonding areas to locally bond said shell to said cup, said bonding spots and/or areas separated from each other by non bonding parts along said contact path.

24. The method according to one of the claim 22 or 23, characterized in that said plastic coating is an annular strip and that said strip is completely heated.

25. The method according to one of the claim 24 characterized in that only parts of said strip are heated, which then form or at least comprise said bonding spots and/or bonding areas.

26. The method according to one of the claim 23, characterized in that an annular or first member with at least one radially displaceable or protruding pressing element is positioned inside the cup body, which pressing member presses against an external or second member to press the walls of the cup body and the shell together by both members to form one or more bonding spots and/or bonding areas.

27. An apparatus for bonding an outer shell to an inner cup to form an insulated container for hot liquids or the like, comprising:

a) a first member to be arranged within the inner cup;

b) a second member concentric with said first member and arranged outside the outer shell;

c) at least one radially protruding or movable pressing member to press opposed shell and cup walls together to form bonding spot and/or bonding area along their circumferences.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that said first member is an annular ring or a disk.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that said radially movable pressing member is a plunger movably supported by said first and/or second member.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that a number of said radially movable pressing elements are arranged evenly distributed along the circumference of said first or second member.

31. The apparatus according to one of the claim 27, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a receiving member with at least a skirt portion and an upper flange used for holding the shell.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, characterized in that a counter pressing extension as a second member extends from the upper flange in essentially vertical direction.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that an upper end of counter pressing extension is used as a seat for outward curl of cup body.