BEVERAGE CUP, A BEVERAGE CUP BLANK AND/OR A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

A beverage cup is provided. The beverage cup has a main body formed from paper and/or paper board material. At least one window element is defined in a side wall of the main body of said beverage cup. The at least one window element comprises or consists of at least a partially transparent, biodegradable and/or compostable material.

Claims

1. A beverage cup, said beverage cup having a main body formed from paper and/or paper board material, at least one window element defined in a side wall of the main body of said beverage cup, characterised in that said at least one window element comprises or consists of at least a partially transparent, biodegradable and/or compostable material.

2. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein the beverage cup, the main body of the beverage cup and/or the at least one window element is equal to or greater than 90% biodegradable, compostable and/or recyclable; equal to or greater than 95% biodegradable, compostable and/or recyclable; equal to or substantially equal to 100% biodegradable, recyclable and/or compostable.

3. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein the at least one window element is formed from, includes or consists of any or any combination of a paper or paper based material, a corn starch paper, a plant based paper, cellulose based paper, polylactic acid (PLA) paper or PLA coated paper.

4. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein the at least one window element consists of a single window element only defined in or provided in the beverage cup; or the at least one window element comprises or consists of at least two window elements defined in or provided in the beverage cup.

5. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein the shape, design and/or dimensions of the at least one window element is such that a longitudinal axis or the longest axis of the at least one window element is parallel or substantially parallel to a height or longitudinal axis of the beverage cup.

6. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein a width of the at least one window element is approximately 15 mm+/5 mm; and/or a length or height of the at least one window element is approximately 30 mm+/5 mm.

7. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein one or more measurement markings are printed, provided and/or defined on the beverage cup, the main body of the beverage cup and/or at least one window element so that a user is able to determine a quantity or product or volume of liquid contained in the beverage cup in use.

8. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein at least one aperture is defined in a side wall of the material forming the main body of the beverage cup and the material of the at least one window element is provided in or over the at least one aperture to form the at least one window element.

9. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein the at least one window element is attached, adhered, sealed or heat sealed to the beverage cup or main body of the beverage cup and/or is attached or joined between two or more layers or plys of the paper and/or paper board material of the main body of the beverage cup.

10. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein the beverage cup, the main body of the beverage cup and/or the at least one window element is formed from or consists of a single layer or ply of material or a multi-layered or multi-ply material.

11. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein a layer or at least one layer of material of the main body of the beverage cup and/or the at least one window element is corrugated or includes one or more corrugations on an external surface thereof and/or is formed from or includes a coating, waterproof coating, substantially waterproof coating or coating material.

12. The beverage cup according to claim 1, wherein the beverage cup or main body of the beverage cup is formed from a blank or blanks of material; and the beverage cup or main body blank is movable from a flat or relatively flat form to an erect or relatively erect form in order to construct the beverage cup in use.

13. A beverage cup material blank, said beverage cup material blank formed from paper and/or paper board material, at least one window element defined in the beverage cup material blank, characterised in that said at least one window element comprises or consists of at least a partially transparent, biodegradable and/or compostable material.

14. The beverage cup material blank according to claim 13, including a first material blank for creating a side wall(s) of the beverage cup or main body of the beverage cup, and a second material blank for creating a base of the beverage cup or main body of the beverage cup.

15. A method of manufacturing a beverage cup, said method including the steps of providing a beverage cup material blank formed from paper and/or paper board material, forming at least one window element in the beverage cup material blank, constructing the beverage cup from the beverage cup material blank, and wherein said at least one window element comprises or consists of at least a partially transparent, biodegradable and/or compostable material.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0080] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0081] FIG. 1 is a side view of a beverage cup according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] FIG. 2 is a beverage cup blank for forming the beverage cup shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

[0083] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example of a beverage cup 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage cup 2 has a main body including side walls 4 and a base 6. The base 6 can be joined to the side walls along a first or lower edge of the side walls. A second or uppermost edge 8 of the side walls 4 is in the form of an outwardly rolled edge or lip.

[0084] The beverage cup 2 is formed from 100% biodegradable and compostable paper board material. The paper board material can be a single ply or layer of material or can be a multi-ply or multi-layered material. It is typically provided with a biodegradable and compostable waterproof coating on an inner and/or outer surface of the same.

[0085] In accordance with the present invention, a window element 10 is defined in the side wall 4 of the beverage cup 2 below the outwardly roller edge or lip for allowing a user to view the liquid line or uppermost liquid line of the beverage contained in the cup 2 in use. This is important in ensuring an accurate volume of beverage has been dispensed into the cup 2 in use. The provision of accurate measures of beverage in a cup, particularly for example in the case of alcoholic drinks, is important because by law, such drinks are required to be provided in accurate pre-defined measures, such as a pint or half pint measure. Beverages such as beer or carbonated drinks often form a foam head on top of the uppermost liquid surface when being dispensed from pressurised dispensing apparatus. Conventionally, the formation of a foam head on a top surface of the dispensed liquid prevents a user from easily visualising the top level of the liquid in the cup when the beverage is being viewed from above via the open top of the cup. This makes it difficult for a user to accurately dispense a pre-determined drink measure unless expensive metering equipment is used.

[0086] The provision of a window element in a beverage cup is known but such conventional window elements have previously been formed from a transparent plastic material. This prevents conventional beverage cups from being fully recyclable, compostable and/or biodegradable. The window element of the present invention is formed, in one example, from a 100% biodegradable and compostable paper material which is at least partially transparent and is plastic free. The at least partial transparency of the window element material is such that the liquid line of the beverage contained in the beverage cup can be easily visualised through the window element from the exterior of the cup. This is the case even if a foam head is located on the upper surface of the liquid. This means that the beverage cup can be used with both metered dispensing apparatus and free flow dispensing apparatus (i.e. non-metered dispensing apparatus) whilst still allowing a user to accurately dispense a pre-defined measure of beverage into the cup in use.

[0087] The external surface of the cup 2 can be printed with any suitable design, images, text and/or the like.

[0088] In one example, a pre-defined measure 12 that the beverage cup is suitable to contain can be printed on or adjacent the window element 10 to allow a user to easily visualise the amount of beverage that is to be located in the beverage up in use.

[0089] A lid can optionally be provided for location over an open top 14 of the cup 2 if required. Beverage is poured into the cup 2 via the open top 14 in use.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a beverage cup material blank 100 for forming a main body of the beverage cup 2 according to the present invention. More particularly, the beverage cup material blank 100 includes a first side wall blank 102 and a second base blank 104. The beverage cup material blanks 102, 104 are typically cut from paper and/or paper board material. Window element 10 is formed in the first side wall blank 102 adjacent to and below an upper or second edge of the same. This window element comprises an aperture 106 typically cut in the first side wall material blank 102 and a partially transparent, biodegradable and compostable paper material 108 is located over the aperture 106 and is sealingly adhered via suitable adhesive means to the side wall material blank 102. However, the material of the widow element could also be joined between an outer and an inner layer forming the side walls blanks if required.

[0091] The beverage cup blank 100 is typically moved from a relatively flat condition to a relatively erect condition to construct the beverage cup 2 using cup forming apparatus. In one example, the cup forming apparatus rolls the first side wall blank 102 to form of a cup shape or cylinder. One or more side wall edge sections 110 of the first side wall blank are sealingly adhered to one or more opposite side wall edge sections 112 of the first side wall blank. This sealing adhesion, in one example, can be via a heat sealing adhesive. The base 104 of the beverage cup 2 is then located into place in a base of the erect side walls and sealingly adhered. This adhesion, in one example, can also be via a heat sealing adhesive. A rolled edge or lip can be formed on an upper edge of the cup.