Cup and method for manufacturing a cup

Abstract

A cup made of a paper material or a material which can be processed in a similar manner to paper and which has a fillable interior, wherein the cup has a casing and an outer casing between which an insulating space is formed. The insulating space contains an insulating material which is prevented from escaping from the insulating space by at least one lower seal.

Claims

1. A cup comprising: an inner casing which is conical at least in certain sections and a base forming a fillable interior; the base being connected in an essentially fluid-tight manner to the inner casing in a region of a lower end of the interior; an outer casing surrounding the inner casing at least in certain sections such that an insulating space is formed between the inner casing and the outer casing; the insulating space being at least partially filled with insulating material; and a lower seal, which runs completely around a circumference, formed at least underneath the insulating material to prevent the insulating material from escaping between the inner casing and the outer casing; wherein the lower seal comprises a circumferential bead thereby forming a materially joined connection between the inner casing and the outer casing, a material of the insulating material being different from a material of the lower seal.

2. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: the lower seal is formed underneath the insulating material which is arranged between the inner casing and the outer casing.

3. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: the lower seal is formed by the outer casing being bonded, adhered or sealed to the inner casing at a lower shoulder; and the lower shoulder is formed on the outer casing and extends towards the inner casing.

4. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: the lower seal is formed by rolling the outer casing towards the inner casing and bonding, adhering or sealing the outer casing to the inner casing.

5. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: the outer casing is spaced apart at a lower edge thereof from the inner casing, and the lower seal is embodied in such a way that the lower seal is spaced apart from the lower edge further in an upward direction.

6. The cup according to claim 5, wherein: the lower seal comprises a circumferential adhesive bead, pulp bead or sealing bead.

7. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: above the insulating material, a circumferential upper seal is formed completely around a circumference in order to prevent the insulating material from escaping between the inner casing and the outer casing.

8. The cup according to claim 7, wherein: the upper seal is formed above the insulating material which is arranged between the inner casing and the outer casing.

9. The cup according to claim 7, wherein: the upper seal is formed by bonding, adhering or sealing the outer casing to the inner casing at an upper shoulder; and the upper shoulder is formed on the outer casing and extends towards the inner casing.

10. The cup according to claim 7, wherein: the upper seal is formed in that the outer casing is rolled towards the inner casing and is bonded, adhered or sealed to the inner casing.

11. The cup according to claim 7, wherein: the outer casing is spaced apart at an upper edge thereof from the inner casing, and the upper seal is embodied in such a way that the upper seal is spaced apart from the upper edge further in a downward direction.

12. The cup according to claim 11, wherein: the upper seal comprises a circumferential adhesive bead, pulp bead or sealing bead or a sealing lip.

13. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: a number of completely circumferential, central seals are arranged between the inner casing and the outer casing; and the insulating material is arranged both underneath and above each central seal.

14. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: the insulating material is formed in one or more large-area layers and/or in one or more circumferential beads.

15. The cup according to claim 1, wherein: a number of central bonding points are arranged between the inner casing and the outer casing; and the central bonding points are arranged over the lower seal and under an upper edge of the outer casing and/or an upper seal.

16. A method for manufacturing a cup according to claim 1, the method including the following steps: essentially fluid-tight connecting the inner casing and the base; applying the insulating material to the inner casing; attaching the outer casing to the inner casing; and forming the lower seal to prevent the insulating material from escaping between the outer casing and the inner casing.

17. A method for manufacturing a cup, the method including the following steps: essentially fluid-tight connecting a conical inner casing and a base; applying an insulating material to the inner casing; attaching an outer casing to the inner casing; and forming a lower seal to prevent the insulating material from escaping between the outer casing and the inner casing; wherein the lower seal comprises a circumferential bead thereby forming a materially joined connection between the inner casing and the outer casing, a material of the insulating material being different from a material of the lower seal.

18. A cup comprising: an inner casing which is conical at least in certain sections and a base forming a fillable interior; the base being connected in an essentially fluid-tight manner to the inner casing in a region of a lower end of the interior; an outer casing surrounding the inner casing at least in certain sections such that an insulating space is formed between the inner casing and the outer casing; the insulating space being at least partially filled with insulating material; and a lower seal, which runs completely around a circumference, formed at least underneath the insulating material to prevent the insulating material from escaping between the inner casing and the outer casing; wherein the insulating material has a certain degree of porosity or brittleness to allow the insulating material to crumble.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages will become apparent to a person skilled in the art on considering the exemplary embodiments described below with reference to the appended drawing. Individual features of the exemplary embodiments which are described and illustrated can be combined here in any desired fashion without exceeding the scope of the invention.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIGS. 1, 1a, 1b: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to a first exemplary embodiment,

(4) FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to a second exemplary embodiment,

(5) FIGS. 3, 3a, 3b: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to a third exemplary embodiment,

(6) FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to a fourth exemplary embodiment,

(7) FIGS. 5, 5a, 5b, 5c: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to a fifth exemplary embodiment,

(8) FIGS. 6, 6a, 6b, 6c: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to a sixth exemplary embodiment,

(9) FIGS. 7, 7a, 7b, 7c: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to a seventh exemplary embodiment, and

(10) FIGS. 8, 8a, 8b: show a schematic sectional view through a cup according to an eighth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) In total eight different embodiments of a cup 10 are illustrated below. In each case an overall view of the respective cup 10 is firstly provided here in a figure which does not have any letter in its designation. Respective upper and lower regions are marked in this figure and characterized by a and b, respectively. These regions are illustrated in more detail in the respective figures characterized by a and b, respectively. A number of exemplary embodiments are additionally also illustrated with a further figure which illustrates cups which are stacked one in the other. This figure is characterized by the letter c.

(12) All the exemplary embodiments have in common the fact that the respective cup 10 has a casing 20 and an outer casing 30. The casing 20 bounds in certain sections a fillable interior in which a beverage, in particular a hot beverage, can be accommodated. The casing 30 is embodied here in a conical fashion. In the region of its lower end, the interior which is formed by the casing 20 is closed off by a pot-shaped base 24 which is attached to the casing 20 by virtue of the fact that the casing 20 is bent over at its lower end, and a circumferential base wall of the base 24 is bonded, sealed and/or pressed between two sections of the casing 20. This embodiment of the base 24 which is shown is merely by way of example, and the specific configuration of the base is not the deciding factor for the embodiment of the invention described here. For example, the base 24 and the casing 20 could also be embodied in one piece.

(13) The outer casing 30 is attached to the casing 20 in a suitable way. This can be done, for example, by means of suitable adhesive beads which are arranged between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30. Said beads can be embodied to run around or else only in certain sections. The adhesive beads do not have to perform a sealing effect in all cases even though a number of exemplary embodiments are also described further below in which they also have a sealing effect. Alternatively, the outer casing 30 can also be sealed to the casing 20.

(14) An insulating space 40 is formed between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30. Said insulating space serves to inhibit the transportation of heat between a hot beverage or cold beverage contained in the cup and the surroundings. The insulating space 40 is at least partially filled with insulating material, wherein, depending on the exemplary embodiment, the insulating material can be a bead-shaped insulating material 50 or a planar insulating material 52. More details on this will be given during the discussion of the exemplary embodiments. Apart from the respective insulating material 50, 52, the insulating space 40 is filled here with air.

(15) In order to prevent the insulating material 50, 52 from escaping between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30, the cups 10 according to the respective exemplary embodiments each have a lower seal 60 and an upper seal 70. A description of how these seals 60, 70 are respectively embodied in precise terms will be given below with respect to the individual exemplary embodiments.

(16) At the upper edge, the casing 20 has a mouth roll 22 which ensures in a manner known per se that the beverage which is accommodated in the cup 10 can be drunk pleasantly. In particular, the mouth roll 22 stabilizes an edge of the casing 20 at which a person usually starts to drink.

(17) FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b show a cup 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(18) The upper seal 70 is embodied here in such a way that the casing 20 is bent towards the outer casing 30 and in the process forms an upper shoulder 28 which can also be referred to as a shoulder. Above the upper shoulder 28 the outer casing 30 and the casing 20 are bonded to one another along an upper planar bonded connection 76. Since in this context a materially joined connection or adhesive bond has been formed, no insulating material 50 can escape through the upper seal 70.

(19) The lower seal 60 is embodied in this first exemplary embodiment by rolling in the outer casing 30 on its underside and forming a lower, rolled-in region 32. A lower, linear bonded connection 62, which forms a materially joined connection or adhesive bond between the outer casing 30 and the casing 20, is formed at the lower, rolled-in region 32, towards the casing 20. A distance between the outer casing 30 and the casing 20 is defined by means of the lower, rolled-in region 32. In addition, the bead-shaped insulating material 50 contained in the insulating space 40 is prevented from escaping by this lower, rolled-in region 32 together with the lower, linear bonded connection 62.

(20) FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b show a cup 10 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. The lower seal 60 is embodied in an identical way to the first exemplary embodiment here. Therefore, a renewed description is not given.

(21) The upper seal 70 is embodied in the same way as the lower seal 60, i.e. the outer casing 30 forms an upper, rolled-in region 38 at its upper end, wherein an upper linear bonded connection 72 is formed between this upper, rolled-in region 38 and the casing 20. Therefore, an upper seal 70 is produced in the same way as has just been described with respect to the lower seal 60, which upper seal 70 prevents the insulating material 50 contained in the insulating space 40 from escaping.

(22) FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b show a cup 10 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention. The upper seal 70 is embodied here in such a way that the outer casing 30 is spaced apart at its upper end from the casing 20 and an upper adhesive bead 74 is formed between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30, somewhat below the upper edge. This upper adhesive bead 74 runs completely around the entire circumference of the cup 10, with the result that the insulating material 52 which is planar here cannot move past it. This permits the desired sealing effect of the upper adhesive bead 72.

(23) The lower seal 60 is embodied in this exemplary embodiment in the same way as the upper seal 70. The outer casing 30 is spaced apart at a lower edge from the casing 20, and a lower adhesive bead 64 is arranged between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30 somewhat above this lower edge, which lower adhesive bead 64 produces a materially joined connection or adhesive bond between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30. The lower adhesive bead 64 also runs completely around the entire circumference of the cup 10. It therefore prevents the planar insulating material 52, which is arranged in the insulating space 40 according to this exemplary embodiment, from escaping at the underside of the cup 10. The lower adhesive bead 64 is arranged underneath the base 24, and the outer casing extends to under the base 24.

(24) FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b and 4c show a cup 10 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention. The upper seal is embodied in an identical way to the third exemplary embodiment here. Therefore, more details are not given about this.

(25) The lower seal 60 is in principle also embodied in the same way as the lower seal 60 according to the third exemplary embodiment, wherein in addition the inner casing 20 has a stacking shoulder 26 which is formed above the lower seal 60. This stacking shoulder 26 is composed here of a region which runs around and in which the casing 20 is bent over towards the outer casing 30, and therefore makes available a supporting surface for another cup. Therefore, when cups 10 are stacked together it is possible to avoid a situation in which they stick one in the other and the removal of the cups 10 is made more difficult.

(26) In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the outer casing 30 is at a distance from the casing 20 at the lower edge, which distance is reduced compared to the third exemplary embodiment. This is because the skirt on which the circumferential wall of the base is held between two sections of the outer casing 30 and bonded or sealed widens again up to the lower edge of the cup.

(27) Exemplary stacking of an upper cup 10 into a lower cup 10a is illustrated in FIG. 4c. In this context it is apparent that the upper cup 10 rests with its lower end, formed by the skirt, but the part of the casing 20 which is bent over by 180 in order to secure the base 24, on the stacking shoulder 26a of the lower cup 10a. Reference is made to the entirety of the description which has already been given with respect to the individual components of the cups 10, 10a, wherein it is merely to be noted that all the components of the lower cup 10a are provided with the letter a. Furthermore, from FIG. 4c it is also apparent that according to this exemplary embodiment a planar insulating material 52, which takes up a large part of the insulating space 40, is present in the insulating space 40. The insulating material 52 is also present in the region of the stacking shoulder 2 and can contribute to stabilizing the stacking shoulder.

(28) FIGS. 5, 5a, 5b and 5c show a cup 10 according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention. The upper seal 70 is embodied here in an identical way to the first exemplary embodiment. The lower seal 60 is embodied here in an identical way to the fourth exemplary embodiment. The stacking shoulder is also embodied in an identical way to the fourth exemplary embodiment. For this reason, reference is made to the descriptions already given further above and there is no repetition.

(29) In contrast to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the cup 10 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment does not have a planar insulating material 52 but rather a bead-shaped insulating material 50. Therefore, a substantially larger part of the insulating space 40 is filled with air. The bead-shaped insulating material 50 serves in this case essentially to maintain a defined distance between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30.

(30) FIG. 5c shows in turn two cups 10, 10a which are stacked one on top of the other, wherein the upper cup is in turn denoted by the reference 10, and the lower cup is denoted by the reference 10a. Reference is made to the description which has already been given with respect to the individual components of the cups 10, 10a. The components of the lower cup 10a are in turn characterized by the letter a. As is also presented further above in FIG. 4c with respect to the fourth exemplary embodiment, it is also apparent in FIG. 5c that the upper cup 10 is suitably supported on the stacking shoulder 26a of the lower cup 10a, with the result that the latter cannot be completely inserted into the lower cup 10a. This advantageously prevents the cups 10, 10a from becoming stuck.

(31) FIGS. 6, 6a, 6b and 6c show a cup 10 according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(32) The upper seal 70 is embodied here in such a way that the outer casing 30 is spaced apart at its upper edge from the casing 20, and a sealing lip 78 is arranged somewhat underneath this edge. It is to be noted that a materially joined connection or adhesive bond is not formed between the casing 30 and the sealing lip 78. Instead, the outer casing 30 rests with a certain prestress on the sealing lip 78. This prestress is brought about by a bonded connection (not illustrated) between the casing 20 and the outer casing 30 of the cup 10, which bonded connection is arranged, for example, at the height of the vertical centre of the cup 10. The prestress is sufficient to ensure that an insulating material which is present in the form of a bead-shaped insulating material 50 according to this exemplary embodiment cannot escape from the insulating space 40 between the sealing lip 78 and the outer casing 30. The lower seal 60 is embodied in the same way, wherein the outer casing 30 is spaced apart at its lower edge from the casing 20, and a lower sealing lip 68 is formed on the casing 20 somewhat above said lower edge, which lower sealing lip 68 extends towards the outer casing 30. The outer casing 30 also bears with a certain prestress against this lower sealing lip 68, which prestress is generated by the bonded connection which has already been described. This also prevents insulating material 50 from escaping from the insulating space 40.

(33) FIG. 6c shows in turn two cups 10, 10a which are stacked one in the other. The upper cup 10 is stacked here into the lower cup 10a. In this case there is also provision that a defined distance is maintained between the cups 10, 10a, wherein in contrast to the cups 10 according to the fourth and fifth exemplary embodiments there is no stacking shoulder 26 provided. Instead, the casing 20 and therefore also the skirt of the upper cup 10 are pulled so far downwards that it rests on the base 24a of the lower cup 10a, and there is still a distance present between the outer casing 30 of the upper cup 10 and the inner casing 20a of the lower cup 10a. The cup 10 can consequently not be inserted further into the lower cup 10a. As a result, a lower boundary for the distance between the two cups 10, 10a is defined and is selected in such a way that the cups 10, 10a cannot become caught in one another. It is therefore ensured that the cups 10, 10a can be separated from one another easily at any time.

(34) FIGS. 7, 7a, 7b and 7c show a cup 10 according to a seventh exemplary embodiment of the invention. The lower seal 60 and the upper seal 70 are embodied here in an identical way to the sixth exemplary embodiment by means of respective sealing lips 68, 78. Therefore, reference is made to the above description and there is no repetition.

(35) In contrast to the cup 10 according to the sixth exemplary embodiment, the cup 10 according to the seventh exemplary embodiment has in turn a stacking shoulder 26 which has already been described with reference to the fourth and fifth exemplary embodiments. In FIG. 7c it is, in particular, illustrated that the stacking shoulder 26a of the lower cup 10a into which an upper cup 10 is placed serves, in a form already described further above, to support the upper cup 10. Reference is made to the respective descriptions further above with respect to the individual illustrated components and the functionality of the stacking shoulder 26.

(36) FIGS. 8, 8a and 8b show a cup 10 according to an eighth exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(37) The upper seal 70 is embodied here in such a way that the outer casing 30 has a shoulder 34 which extends towards the casing 20. At an upper edge of the outer casing 30, the outer casing 30 is bonded to the casing 20 along an upper planar bonded connection 76. Alternatively, the planar bonded connection 76 can also be embodied as a seal. This upper planar bonded connection 76 is basically embodied similarly to that which has already been discussed further above with respect to the first exemplary embodiment. However, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, in the case of the cup 10 according to the eighth exemplary embodiment the casing does not have a shoulder but instead is embodied in a smooth way with the exception of the lip rim 22. Accordingly, the outer casing 30 is bent towards the casing 20 by the shoulder 34 and therefore also defines the distance between the outer casing 30 and the casing 20 which is necessary to form the insulating space 40.

(38) The lower seal 60 is embodied in the same way as the upper seal 70. The outer casing 30 forms here a lower shoulder 36 which is bent towards the casing 20. At a lower edge of the outer casing 30, the outer casing 30 is bonded to the casing 20 along a lower planar bonded connection 66. The distance between the outer casing 30 and the casing 20 is therefore also defined.

(39) The respective planar bonded connections 66, 76 prevent the bead-shaped insulating material 50, contained in the insulating space 40 and provided according to the eighth exemplary embodiment, from escaping from the insulating space 40.