CUP FOR HOLDING A BEVERAGE AND BLANK FOR FORMING A SIDEWALL WITH INTEGRATED FLAPS OF A CUP

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a cup including a base, a sidewall having a lower end portion connected to the base so that the base and the sidewall together define a space, and at least four flaps that are connected to an upper end portion of the sidewall via respective folding lines. The flaps are foldable relative to the sidewall between an open position, in which the flaps are oriented in parallel to the sidewall, and a closed position, in which the flaps are folded inwards so to form a lid of the cup. The at least four flaps include a first and a second flap having a first width, and a third and a fourth flap having a second width, wherein in the closed position, the at least four flaps define at least two faces of the lid, and wherein the third flap includes a drinking opening.

Claims

1. A cup for holding a beverage, comprising: a base; a sidewall having a lower end portion connected to the base so that the base and the sidewall together define a space configured for receiving the beverage; and at least four flaps that are connected to an upper end portion of the sidewall via respective folding lines, the flaps being foldable relative to the sidewall between an open position, in which the flaps are oriented in parallel to the sidewall, and a closed position, in which the flaps are folded inwards so to form a lid of the cup; wherein the at least four flaps include a first and a second flap each having a first width, the first width being an extension in the peripheral direction of the cup, and a third and a fourth flap each having a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width, wherein, in the closed position, the at least four flaps define at least two faces of the lid, and in that the third flap includes a drinking opening.

2. The cup according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least four flaps is not directly connected to any other of the at least four flaps.

3. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the first flap and second flap in the closed position define a first face having a concave surface.

4. The cup according to claim 3, wherein the third flap in the closed position defines a second face having a concave surface or in that the fourth flap in the closed position defines a third face having a concave surface.

5. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the folding lines are curved such that in the open position, a shortest distance from the respective folding line to the bottom is arranged at a middle position along the corresponding width of the corresponding flap.

6. The cup according to claim 5, wherein the third flap and the fourth flap each include a further folding line, wherein the respective further folding line is curved such that, in the open position, a longest distance from the respective further folding line to the bottom is arranged at a middle position along the width of the flap.

7. The cup according to claim 6, wherein the further folding line of the third flap intersects the folding line of the third flap at both edges delimiting the flap in the peripheral direction.

8. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the drinking opening is configured as a straw hole or a sip hole.

9. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the drinking opening is delimited by the folding line of the third flap.

10. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the drinking opening is covered by a drinking opening flap connected to the upper end portion of the sidewall via the folding line of the third flap.

11. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the drinking opening flap is removable.

12. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the first flap further comprises a tab that can be locked with the second flap in the closed position.

13. The cup according to claim 1, wherein the bottom and the sidewall and the at least four flaps are made from paper.

14. A blank for forming a sidewall with integrated flaps of a cup, the blank comprising: a sidewall; and at least four flaps that are connected to an upper end portion of the sidewall via respective folding lines, the flaps being individually foldable relative to the sidewall; wherein the at least four flaps include a first and a second flap having a first width, the first width being an extension in the peripheral direction of the cup, and a third and a fourth flap having a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width, wherein the third flap includes a drinking opening.

15. The blank according to claim 14, wherein each of the at least four flaps is not directly connected to any other of the at least four flaps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further details and advantages of the present disclosure will be elucidated in the following with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures.

[0034] FIG. 1 depicts a blank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 2 depicts a cup according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in an open position in a perspective view from above;

[0036] FIG. 3 depicts a cup according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in an open position in a perspective view from below;

[0037] FIG. 4 depicts a cup according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in a closed position in a perspective view from above; and

[0038] FIG. 5 depicts a cup according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in a closed position in a perspective view from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The embodiment in FIG. 1 shows a blank 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The blank is a blank 100 for forming a sidewall 2 of a cup 1, wherein the cup 1 is in particular suitable for holding a drinkable foodstuff, such as a drinkable liquid. Such a drinkable liquid may e.g. be hot or cold, carbonated or non-carbonated, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, high-viscous or low-viscous. Examples for such liquids arein a non-exhaustive mannercoffee, water, soft drinks, hot or cold cocoa, beer, etc.

[0040] The blank 100 may be formed as a unitary piece, such as from a paper-based sheet of material. In some embodiments, all materials of the blank 100 are bio-based and/or bio-degradable. This may in particular include any adhesives used. The sheet of material may include at least one base layer and at least one further layer, such as a liquid-barrier layer, which may be arranged at a side of the base layer intended to form an inner side of the cup 1.

[0041] The present blank 100 is a blank 100 for forming a sidewall of a cup. It therefore exhibits a generally curved shape, such that it may be rolled and connected at the bottom to aseparately providedbase. The blank 100 may include a sidewall 6. At the lower end portion 4 of the sidewall 6, the blank 100 optionally includes a bottom flap 6 or at least a section intended for connection to a base 2 (cf. FIG. 3).

[0042] Here, the blank 100 furthermore includes a side flap 7 along its right side for closing off the sidewall 3 when forming the cup 1. Again, this side flap 7 may also be a section intended for receiving a, preferably bio-based and/or bio-degradable, adhesive used for connecting the left and right edges of the sidewall 3.

[0043] On the sidewall 3, two lines are indicated, a first filling line F1 and a second filling line F2. Those lines are merely optional and may be used to indicate a preferred/recommended filling level of liquid in the cup 1.

[0044] On its upper end, the blank 100 includes at least four flaps 11, 12, 13, 14. The blank 100 may optionally include more than those four flaps 11, 12, 13, 14. The first flap 11 and the second flap 12 include a width W1. This means that according to the embodiment shown here, the first flap 11 and the second flap 12 preferably includes the same width W1. The third flap 13 and the fourth flap 14 conversely includes a width W2, wherein the third flap 13 and the fourth flap 14 in this embodiment include the same width W2.

[0045] All of these flaps 11, 12, 13, 14 are connected to an upper end portion 5 of the sidewall via respective folding lines 21, 22, 23, 24. The first, second, third and fourth flap 11, 12, 13, 14 are not connected directly to any of the other flaps 11, 12, 13, 14 above said respective folding lines 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0046] When forming the cup 1, the first flap 11, second flap 12, third flap 13 and fourth flap 14 are configured for being folded along their respective folding lines 21, 22, 23, 24 in order to form a lid 10 of the cup 1. The folding lines 21, 22, 23, 24 extend from one edge of a flap 11, 12, 13, 14 to the other edge of the flap 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0047] Here, the first flap 11 includes a central tab on its upper end which is intended to or configured to cooperate in the closed position with a corresponding cut-out of the second flap 12 such as to securely lock the lid 10.

[0048] Because according to the presently discussed embodiment, the cup 1 includes a generally round, such as circular, cross section, the folding lines 21, 22, 23, 24 are rounded as well, in particular in the form of a circular arc (section).

[0049] The third flap 13 and the fourth flap 14 furthermore includes further respective folding lines 33, 34, located above the folding lines 23, 24. The further folding lines 33, 34 are respectively mirror-symmetrical to the folding lines 23, 24 with respect to a straight line connecting the respective edges of the third and fourth flap 13, 14. The third flap 13 and the fourth flap 14 are then intended or configured to be folded inwards along both the respective folding lines 23, 24 and the respective further folding lines 33, 34.

[0050] According to the present disclosure, the third flap 13 includes a drinking opening 15, which is arranged at a central position of the third flap 13 at the edge to the sidewall 3, i.e. it is delimited by the folding line 23 and a cut line 25. The drinking opening 15 may be a straw hole, i.e. an opening configured for receiving a straw, or a sip hole, i.e. an opening configured to be contacted by the mouth of a user for sipping the liquid containing in the cup 1. The drinking opening 15 is closed off before use by a drinking opening flap not shown here. This drinking opening flap may be opened or even removed before drinking.

[0051] The first, second, third and fourth flap 11, 12, 13, 14 are dimensioned and shaped such that when they are folded from an open position to a closed position, they do not abut on the sidewall 3 and such that they form a lid 10 which completely closes the top opening of the cup 1.

[0052] In FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a cup 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in different perspectives views and in open and closed positions of the flaps 11, 12, 13, 14. The embodiment shown in these figures is substantially the same. Therefore, the corresponding explanations apply to all of those figures. Furthermore, the cup 1 shown in these figures is preferably formed from the blank 100 as discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

[0053] In FIG. 2, a cup 1 according to an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in an open position and in a perspective view from above. The sidewall 3 of the blank 100 has been rolled up and the side flap 7 has been connected to the abutting edge region, e.g. by an adhesive, thus closing the sidewall. Furthermore, the sidewall 3 has been closed at its lower end portion 4 by ahere circularbase 2, which will be more closely discussed with reference to FIG. 3.

[0054] The cup 1 shown in FIG. 2 is ready to be filled with a foodstuff, such as a drinkable liquid. The flaps 11, 12, 13, 14 are still projecting upwards from the upper end portion 5 of the sidewall 3, i.e. they do not yet form a lid. The cup 1 thus includes a large top opening. Here, the sidewall 3 is shaped such that the cup 1 includes a generally frustoconical form, although other shapes are possible as well.

[0055] In FIG. 3, the cup 1 of FIG. 2 is shown in a perspective view from below. As can be seen here, the base 2 is a substantially circular base which is connected to the sidewall 3 a predetermined distance away from the lower end of the sidewall 3, e.g. by a bio-based and/or bio-degradable adhesive. Thus, an annular ring of the sidewall 3 is created on which the cup 1 rests when being positioned on a flat surface. This is advantageous, as this ensures a desirable stand, e.g. if the base 2 bulges outwardly, i.e. it assumes a convex shape due to the weight and/or temperature of the liquid contained in the cup 1. Furthermore, if the cup 1 holds a hot liquid, the heat transfer from the liquid to the surface on which it rests is advantageously reduced.

[0056] In FIG. 4, the cup 1 according to an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in a closed position and in a perspective view from above. After filling the cup with a liquid, such as up to a height between the first filling line F1 and the second filling line F2, the opening needs to be closed in order to allow the cup 1 to be safely transported without a risk of spilling the liquid.

[0057] In order to close the opening and form a lid 10, the first flap 11 and the second flap 12 as well as the third flap 13 and the fourth flap 14 need to be folded inwards along the respective folding lines 21, 22, 23, 24. Additionally, the third flap 13 and the fourth flap 14 are also folded inwards along their respective further folding lines 33, 34. Preferably, firstly the third flap 13 and the fourth flap 14 are folded inwards along the respective folding lines 23, 24 and subsequently folded along the respective further folding lines 33, 34. Thus, a second face B and a third face C are created, which are inclined inwardly with respect to the sidewall 3 at an angle lower than 90 and more than 0.

[0058] The second flap 12 is then folded inwardly along its folding line 22, followed by the folding of the first flap 11 along its folding line 21, wherein the first flap 11 and the second flap 12 together define a first face A of the lid 10. Finally, the optional tab of the first flap 11 is inserted into a corresponding optional opening or cut-out of the second flap 12 to secure the lid 10 in place, thus reducing or eliminating the risk of an unintentional opening of the lid 10.

[0059] Now, if the user at any time wishes to consume, i.e. drink, the liquid contained in the cup 1, the user may open the drinking opening 15 located at the third flap 13, which is initially closed by a drinking opening flap, as indicated in FIG. 4. The drinking opening flap may be folded outwardly (or inwardly) along its portion of the folding line 23. Alternatively or additionally, the drinking opening flap may be completely removed, such as torn off.

[0060] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the second face B is inclined with respect to the sidewall 3 and the first face A. The drinking opening 15 arranged on the second face B is therefore ergonomically better positioned to be contacted by a user's mouth. This advantageously reduces the risk of spilling the liquid contained in the cup 1.

[0061] Preferably, the first face A is concave, i.e. it bulges inwardly. This helps in ensuring a closed lid during transport and advantageously enables stacking of multiple closed cups 1.

[0062] In FIG. 5, the cup 1 of FIG. 4 is shown in a perspective view from below. Again, the circular base 2, arranged at a predetermined height above the lower end of the sidewall 3 can be seen. Furthermore, the distinctive form of the upper end portion 5 of the cup 1 can be seen. Although the cup 1 includes a substantially circular cross section, due to the four flaps 11, 12, 13, 14, it includes at its top end four corners, which are the highest points of the cup 1. Both the first face A and the second face B, and in some embodiments also the third face C, are concave surfaces, i.e. bulging inwardly. In some embodiments, the first face A, the second face B and/or the third face Care continuous surfaces.