Cup and method for the manufacturing of a cup

Abstract

A cup having a cup opening surrounded by a rim, a bottom opposite the cup opening, a longitudinal axis extending from the cup opening to the bottom, an upper portion disposed closer to the rim than to the bottom and having an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper portion either having a constant diameter or the upper portion being frustoconical and tapering from an upper diameter to a lower diameter, an intermediate portion disposed between the upper portion and the base, the intermediate portion having an outer surface and an inner surface, the intermediate portion either having a constant diameter or the intermediate portion being frustoconical and tapering from an upper diameter to a lower diameter, each diameter of the upper portion being greater than each diameter of the intermediate portion, wherein a sequence of characters is provided on the outer surface of the upper portion projecting above other portions of the outer surface.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A Cup comprising: a rim defining a cup opening; a bottom opposite the cup opening; an upper part arranged closer to the rim than to the bottom, the upper part having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the upper part either has a constant diameter, or the upper part is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter to a lower diameter; a longitudinal axis (A) running from the cup opening to the bottom; an intermediate part arranged between the upper part and the bottom, the intermediate part having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the intermediate portion either has a constant diameter or the intermediate portion is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter to a lower diameter, wherein each diameter of the upper part is larger than each diameter of the intermediate part; wherein a sequence of characters is provided on the outer surface of the upper part and projects over other parts of the outer surface; and wherein a transition is arranged between the upper part and the intermediate part.

15. The cup according to claim 14, further comprising a frame provided on the outer surface of the upper part and projecting over other parts of the outer surface, wherein a. said frame has an upper point or section located closer to the rim and a lower point or section located closer to the bottom; and b. as seen in the circumferential direction of the upper part, said frame has a starting point or starting section and an end point or end section offset in the circumferential direction from the starting point or starting section, wherein the angle between a first radial of the upper part passing through the starting point or starting section and a second radial passing through the end point or end section is less than 90°; and c. wherein the sequence of characters projecting above other parts of the outer surface is provided on the outer surface of the upper part and adjacent to the frame.

16. The cup according to claim 14, said cup produced by deep drawing and the sequence of characters produced by embossing.

17. The cup according to claim 14, wherein a thinnest wall thickness of the upper part is equal to or thicker than a thickest wall thickness of the intermediate part.

18. The cup according to claim 14, further comprising a frame recessed with respect to other parts of the inner surface of the upper part and provided on the inner surface of the upper part, wherein the frame has an upper point or section located closer to the rim, and a lower point or section located closer to the bottom; and as seen in the circumferential direction of the upper part, the frame has a starting point or starting section and an end point or end section offset in the circumferential direction from the starting point or starting section, wherein the angle between a first radial of the upper part passing through the starting point or starting section and a second radial passing through the end point or end section is less than 90°; and/or a sequence of characters is provided on the inner surface of the upper part and adjacent to the frame, and recessed with respect to other parts of the inner surface.

19. The cup according to claim 14, further comprising a lower portion disposed between the intermediate portion and the bottom and having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the lower portion either has a constant diameter or the lower portion is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter to a lower diameter; and each diameter of the intermediate portion is greater than each diameter of the lower portion.

20. The cup according to claim 14, wherein the cup is made of polyethylene terephthalate.

21. The cup according to claim 15, wherein a pictogram projecting above other parts of the outer surface is provided on the outer surface of the upper part in the frame and/or a sequence of characters projecting above other parts of the outer surface is provided on the outer surface of the upper part in the frame.

22. The cup according to claim 15, further comprising: a. a first sequence of characters extending along a line provided on the outer surface of the upper part and adjacent to the frame; and b. a second sequence of characters extending along a line provided on the outer surface of the upper part and adjacent to the frame.

23. A method comprising: deep drawing a cup comprising: a rim defining a cup opening, a bottom opposite the cup opening, an upper part arranged closer to the rim than to the bottom, the upper part having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the upper part either has a constant diameter, or the upper part is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter to a lower diameter, a longitudinal axis (A) running from the cup opening to the bottom; an intermediate part arranged between the upper part and the bottom, the intermediate part having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the intermediate portion either has a constant diameter or the intermediate portion is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter to a lower diameter, wherein each diameter of the upper part is larger than each diameter of the intermediate part; and producing a sequence of characters by pressing on the inner surface of the upper part.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a frame projecting over other parts of the outer surface, wherein the frame and the sequence of characters is produced by pressing on the inner surface of the upper part.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein said deep-drawing the cup further comprises using a deep-drawing mold having a step wherein during deep-drawing the upper part is formed above the step and the intermediate part is formed below the step.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the deep-drawing mold has recesses on its inner surface and the cup is preformed in the deep-drawing mold with a deep-drawing punch, and wherein the frame and/or the sequence of characters is formed by introducing a fluid into the preformed cup with overpressure and pressing the material of the preformed cup into the recess.

Description

[0085] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings which merely illustrate embodiments of the invention. Shown are:

[0086] FIG. 1 a perspective view from below of a cup of an embodiment according to the invention with frame in the upper part;

[0087] FIG. 2 a side view of the cup according to FIG. 1;

[0088] FIG. 3 an enlarged view of the rim and parts of the upper part of the cup according to FIG. 1;

[0089] FIG. 4 a cutaway view of a detail of the cup of the invention, showing a section through the rim of the cup and the top portion of the frame;

[0090] FIG. 5 a perspective view from below of a cup of an embodiment according to the invention without a frame in the upper part;

[0091] FIG. 6 a side view of the cup according to FIG. 5;

[0092] FIG. 7 an enlarged view of the rim and parts of the upper part of the cup according to FIG. 5;

[0093] FIG. 8 a side view of a cup according to the invention with a detail A

[0094] FIG. 9 a side view of detail A of FIG. 8 in a magnified view, and

[0095] FIG. 10 a sectional view of the side view of detail A according to FIG. 9, also in enlarged view.

[0096] The cup 1 according to the invention has a cup opening 3 surrounded by a rim 2. A bottom 4 is provided opposite the cup opening 3. A longitudinal axis A runs from the cup opening 3 to the base 4.

[0097] The cup 1 has an upper portion 5 located closer to the rim 2 than to the base 4, which has an outer surface 6 and an inner surface 7. In the embodiment shown, the upper portion 5 is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter to a lower diameter.

[0098] Between the upper part 5 and the bottom 4, an intermediate part 8 is executed, which has an outer surface 9 and an inner surface 10. In the embodiment shown, the intermediate portion 8 is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter to a lower diameter.

[0099] Each diameter of the upper part 5 is larger than each diameter of the intermediate part 8. The length of the upper part LOT shown in FIG. 2, measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis, is between 10 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 15 and 25 mm.

[0100] On the outer surface 6 of the upper part 5, a frame 11 produced by embossing and projecting over other parts of the outer surface 6 is provided. In the embodiment shown, the frame 11 is rectangular. The frame has an upper section 12 located closer to the rim 2 and a lower section 13 located closer to the bottom 4. The frame, as viewed in the circumferential direction of the upper part, has a start portion 14 and an end portion 15 offset from the start portion 14 in the circumferential direction. The angle between a first radial R1 of the upper part passing through the start section 14 and a second radial R2 passing through the end section 15 is less than 90°. Radial R1 and radial R2 meet at a center point M, which lies on the longitudinal axis A, and run radially outward from there. Radial R1 and radial R2 lie in a plane that is perpendicular to longitudinal axis A.

[0101] On the outer surface 9 of the upper part 5 and adjacent to the frame 11 is provided a sequence 16 of characters produced by embossing and projecting above other parts of the outer surface. The font used for the sequence 16 of characters has a height of between 5 pt to 10 pt.

[0102] The cup opening 3 surrounded by the rim 2 is circular.

[0103] The base 4 has an outer standing ring 17, which has an annular, flat standing surface 18. The base 4 has an inner section 19 arranged inside the stand ring 17, which is recessed with respect to the standing surface 18 of the stand ring. For this purpose, a step 20 is provided and the inner section 19 is designed so that it curves inward starting at the step 20.

[0104] On its outer surface, the base 4 has a sequence 21 of characters and pictograms 22 produced by embossing and projecting above other parts of the outer surface of the base 4.

[0105] The base 4 has an outer circumference that has a circular cross-section.

[0106] The frame is formed by a bead 23 produced by embossing and projecting over other parts of the outer surface 6 (cf. FIG. 4). The bead 23 has an apex line 24, which has the shape of the frame. The apex of the bead, lying on the apex line 24, is spaced by a height H from the reference surface formed by the outer surface 6.

[0107] The wall thickness of the upper part 5 is in the range of 200 μm to 600 μm.

[0108] The embossing of the bead 23 can be accomplished by providing a recess in the inner surface of a thermoforming mold and by bringing the material of the cup 1 into contact with the inner surface 7 by applying an internal pressure, for example by means of compressed air, and pressing it into the recess in the inner surface of the thermoforming mold.

[0109] Two lower parts 25, 26 are arranged between the intermediate part 8 and the bottom 4. The lower portion 25 is frustoconical in shape and tapers from an upper diameter disposed closer to the rim 2 to a lower diameter disposed closer to the base 4. Each diameter of the intermediate part 8 is larger than each diameter of the lower part 25. Between the lower part 25 and the bottom 4 is the lower part 26. The lower portion 26 is frustoconical in shape and widens from an upper diameter disposed closer to the rim 2 to a lower diameter disposed closer to the base 4. Transitions 27, which are circular in cross-section, are provided between each of the various lower portions 25, 26 and between the intermediate portion 8 and the lower portion 25 disposed next to the intermediate portion 8. A transition 27 is also provided between the upper part 5 and the intermediate part 8, which is circular in cross-section.

[0110] The cup 1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and is transparent.

[0111] Two embossed pictograms 28 and an embossed sequence 29 of characters are provided in the frame. The sequence 29 of characters extends along a line that is a circumferential line of the upper portion 5.

[0112] Three sequences 16 of characters are provided on each side of frame 1; thus, a total of six sequences 16 of characters are provided. Each sequence 16 of characters extends along a line that is a perimeter of the upper portion 5. The topmost sequence 16 of characters on the left side of frame 11 (FIG. 3) extends along the same perimeter as the topmost sequence 16 of characters on the right side of frame 11. The center sequence 16 of characters on the left side of frame 11 (FIG. 3) extends along the same perimeter as the center sequence 16 of characters on the right side of frame 11. The lowest sequence 16 of characters on the left side of frame 11 (FIG. 3) extends along the same perimeter as the lowest sequence 16 of characters on the right side of frame 11.

[0113] FIGS. 5 to 7 show that the advantages of the invention with regard to the legibility of the sequence 16 of characters and the pictograms can also be realized if no frame is provided in the upper part 5.

[0114] FIGS. 8 to 10 highlight that a transition 27 is provided between the upper part 5 and the intermediate part 8, which is circular in cross-section. In FIG. 10, “WD1” indicates the wall thickness of the upper part 5 and “WD2” indicates the wall thickness of the intermediate part 8. The wall thickness “WD1” is larger than the wall thickness “WD2”—even if this is only partially visible in the type of illustration in FIG. 10.

[0115] Advantageously, the transition 27 can be used to facilitate the adjustment of the wall thicknesses WD1 and WD2. If the material of the cup is held down in the area of the transition 27 during deep drawing with a first, outer punch and a correspondingly shaped mold, and if a second, inner punch is used to deep draw the sections of material used for the intermediate part 8, the outer punch in its interaction with a correspondingly shaped mold can reduce the amount of material that is drawn from the area of the upper part 5 into the area of the intermediate part 8 during deep drawing. As a result, the wall thickness WD1 of the upper part 5 remains thick, while the wall thickness of the intermediate part 8 becomes relatively thinner.