DISPOSABLE FOLDING PAPER CUP THAT FOLDS FLAT AND, WHEN UNFOLDED BY PRESSING OF FOLDED PORTION, HAS CYLINDRICAL UPPER END

Abstract

The present invention relates to a disposable folding paper cup that folds flat and, when unfolded by the pressing of a folded portion, has a cylindrical upper end, the paper cup comprising: a cup body, which is made of a coated paper of which the inner surface is coated with a cup body coating layer, forms a cylindrical shape when unfolded, and forms a flat surface when both sides thereof are folded at folding lines; bending lines forming oval press parts that unfold bisymmetrically around each folding line when the folding line height center portion of the cup body is pressed, and dividing the oval press parts, spaced from the upper and lower ends of the cup body, therefrom; a bottom sheet which is a coated paper having a bottom sheet coating layer formed on the surface thereof so as to be fused with the cup body coating layer at the inner side of the lower end of the cup body, of which both ends are primarily fused therewith while the bottom sheet is folded along a transverse center folding line that is upwardly convex, and which is fused with the bottom edge of the folded cup body to form a bottom fused band; and fusion columns at which the front and rear surfaces, having the folding line at the center thereof, and the bottom sheet, having the end portion fitted therebetween, form a column shape higher than the fusion height of the bottom fused band and lower than the lower end of the bending line, thereby fusing, at a portion at which the bottom fused band and the folding line meet, the end portion of the bottom sheet through the three sides altogether.

Claims

1. A disposable folding paper cup comprising: a cup body (10), which is made of a coated paper of which the inner surface is coated with a cup body coating layer (10b), forms a cylindrical shape when unfolded, and forms a flat surface when both sides thereof are folded at folding lines (11, 11′); bending lines (12a, 12′a) forming oval indentation portions (13, 13′) which are unfolded bisymmetrically around each of the folding lines (11, 11′) when height center portions of the folding lines (11, 11′) of the cup body (10) are pressed, and dividing the oval indentation portions (13, 13′), spaced from the upper and lower ends of the cup body (10); a bottom sheet (20) which is a coated paper having a bottom sheet coating layer (20b) formed on the surface thereof so as to be fused with a cup body coating layer (10b) inside the lower end of the cup body (10), of which both ends are primarily fused with each other while the bottom sheet is folded along a transverse central folding line (21) that is upwardly convex, and which is fused with the bottom edge of the folded cup body (10) to form a bottom fusion band (20d); and a fusion column (20e) which is formed at a portion where the bottom fusion band (20d) and the folding lines (11, 11′) meet, is formed in a column form that the bottom sheet (20) is higher than a fused height of the bottom fusion band (20d) but is lower than the lower ends of bending lines (12, 12′) in a state in which end portions of the bottom sheet (20) are inserted between front and rear surface based on the folding lines (11, 11′), such that the end portion of the bottom sheet 20 is fused at three sides.

2. The disposable folding paper cup according to claim 1, wherein a short axis (C1) of the unfolded indentation portions (13, 13′) is larger than an interval (B1) between the bending line (12a) meeting the central bending line (15) of the short axis (C1) and the bending line (12′a) of the indentation portion (13′) opposed to the bending line (12a).

3. The disposable folding paper cup according to claim 2, wherein auxiliary bending lines (15-1, 15-2) are added to the upper and lower portions of the bending line (15).

4. The disposable folding paper cup according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the bottom sheet (20) and the cup body (10) respectively forms a bottom fusion band (20d), and a curved fusion line (20c) curved downward from both ends of the upper portion thereof to the center to be spaced apart from the bottom fusion band (20d), and wherein both ends of the curved fusion line (20c) correspond to the bending lines (12a, 12′a), and auxiliary bending lines (12a-1, 12a-2) are added to the indentation portions (13, 13′) between the curved lines (12a, 12′a) and a vertical line of a point where the curved fusion line (20c) and the curved lines (12, 12′a) meet together.

5. The disposable folding paper cup according to claim 1, wherein a smoothly uneven portion (19) is formed at the upper end of the cup body (10) to prevent a user's lips from being cut.

6. The disposable folding paper cup according to claim 1, wherein the bottom sheet (20) fused at the inner bottom of the cup body (10) has a plurality of crests (20a) and valleys (20b) continuously formed at the longitudinal central portion to reduce a friction force to the inner bottom of the cup body (10), thereby facilitating insertion into the cup body (10) and closely contacting the bottom sheet (20) with the inner wall of the cup body (10) by the crests and the valleys which are pressed and stretched when being fused.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folded state of a conventional folding paper cup.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an expanded state of the folding paper cup of FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the expanded state of the folding paper cup of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the folding paper cup of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a development view of the folding paper cup of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a folded state of the conventional folding paper cup.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view illustrating an expanded state of a folding paper cup according to the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view before fusion of the folding paper cup according to the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a development view of the folding paper cup according to the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which paper is primarily folded to manufacture a bottom sheet of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the paper is secondarily folded and is fused to manufacture a bottom sheet according to the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a principle in which a curved bottom of a cup body of the present invention is horizontal.

[0041] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of essential parts illustrating a state in which indentation portions are not pressed to the A-A line state of FIG. 12.

[0042] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of essential parts illustrating a state in which the indentation portions are pressed to the B-B line state of FIG. 12.

[0043] FIG. 15 is a front view illustrating a portion of the present invention is cut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] The present invention provides a disposable folding paper cup including: a cup body, which is made of a coated paper of which the inner surface is coated with a cup body coating layer, forms a cylindrical shape when unfolded, and forms a flat surface when both sides thereof are folded at folding lines; bending lines forming oval indentation portions which are unfolded bisymmetrically around each of the folding lines when height center portions of the folding lines of the cup body are pressed, and dividing the oval indentation portions, spaced from the upper and lower ends of the cup body; a bottom sheet which is a coated paper having a bottom sheet coating layer formed on the surface thereof so as to be fused with a cup body coating layer inside the lower end of the cup body, of which both ends are primarily fused with each other while the bottom sheet is folded along a transverse central folding line that is upwardly convex, and which is fused with the bottom edge of the folded cup body to form a bottom fusion band; and a fusion column which is formed at a portion where the bottom fusion band and the folding lines meet, is formed in a column form that the bottom sheet is higher than a fused height of the bottom fusion band but is lower than the lower ends of bending lines in a state in which end portions of the bottom sheet are inserted between front and rear surface based on the folding lines, such that the end portion of the bottom sheet is fused at three sides.

[0045] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 7 to 15.

[0046] A cup body 10 is made with coating paper having a coated inner surface and is in a folded state. When a user presses both folding lines 11 and 11′ spaced apart from each other to unfold the cup body 10 which is in a folded state, folding lines 12 and 12′ forming elliptical indentation portions 13 and 13′ are formed. The indentation portions 13 and 13′ are formed through bending lines 12a and 12′a, and are folded to be upwardly convex by a central folding line 21 formed in a horizontal direction at an inner lower portion of the cup body 10. A bottom sheet 20 made with coated paper coated with a bottom sheet coating layer 20b is fused with the cup body 10 by the outer surface of a bottom sheet base layer 20a.

[0047] A curved fusion line 20c curved downward toward the center from the bottom sheet 20 meeting the bending lines 12a and 12′a is additionally fused as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 15.

[0048] In addition, a lower end portion of the bottom sheet 20 and the inner surface of the cup body 10 are additionally fused below the curved fusion line 20c to be spaced apart from the curved fusion line 20c, thereby forming a bottom fusion band 20d. At a portion where the bottom fusion band 20d and the folding lines 11 and 11′ meet, end portions of the bottom sheet 20 are inserted between front and rear surface based on the folding lines 11 and 11′. The end portions of the bottom sheet 20 are fused in such a way that a fusion column 20e having three sides is formed. The fusion column 20e of the bottom sheet 20 has a column shape which is higher than a fused height of the bottom fusion band 20d but is lower than the lower end of the bending lines 12 and 12′.

[0049] Longitudinal both end surfaces 25 and 25′ formed by the central folding line 21 are folded inward to have a predetermined width as illustrated in FIG. 10. Thereafter, the bottom sheet coating layers 20b coated on the bottom sheet base layers 20a of the both end surfaces 25 and 25′ as illustrated in FIG. 11 are fused to each other so that the bottom sheet 20 is formed.

[0050] The bottom sheet 20 fused onto the inner bottom of the cup body 10 has a plurality of crests 20a and valleys 20b continuously formed at the central portion thereof to reduce a friction force with the inner bottom of the cup body 10. So, the bottom sheet 20 is easily inserted into the cup body 10, and the inner wall of the cup body 10 and the bottom sheet 20 are fused in a contact state since the crests 20a and the valleys 20b of the bottom sheet 20 are pressed and straightened when being fused.

[0051] Furthermore, since the bottom sheet coating layers 20b are exposed to the surface of the bottom sheet 20, the bottom sheet coating layers 20b and a cup body coating layer 10b of the inner surface of the cup body 10 are fused in such a way that the upper portion forms the curved fusion line 20c, the lower portion forms the bottom fusion band 20d, and both ends form the fusion column 20e as illustrated in FIG. 15 according to the principle of FIG. 13. Accordingly, the disposable folding paper cup according to the present invention secures sealability by the bottom fusion band 20d and the fusion column 20e of the lower portion, and shows a form maintenance function and a shock absorption function by the curved fusion line 20c when being unfolded, thereby stably maintaining the unfolded state due to bearing power of the fusion column even after being unfolded.

[0052] A portion near the folding line 11 is not fused with the cup body 10 to be as high as the bottom sheet 20 of the folded state but is divided into the curved fusion line 20c, which is fused in a line form, and the bottom fusion band 20d, which is spaced downward and fused in a band form, to be fused at an upper portion and a lower portion. Accordingly, the paper cup is easily unfolded when the indentation portions 13 are pressed since bearing power is weakened, and the unfolded state can be maintained since the fusion column 20e supports with a strong bearing power.

[0053] The bottom of the cup body 10 between the folding lines 11 and 11′ is cut to form a curved bottom 17 which is curved upward from the lower end corresponding to the folding lines 11 and 11′ toward the center between the folding lines 11 and 11′. When a cutting line (c) illustrated in FIG. 9 is cut after being fused with the bottom sheet 20, the curved bottom 17 is formed. The reason is that the folding lines 11 and 11′ are lifted up when the indentation portions 13 and 13′ near the folding lines 11 and 11′ are pressed so that the curved bottom 17 becomes a horizontal surface.

[0054] That is, in the folded state, the height of the curved bottom 17 between the folding lines 11 and 11′ coincides with the height of the lifted lower ends of the folding lines 11 and 11′ of the unfolded state (indicated by the solid line of FIG. 12).

[0055] The bottom sheet 20 illustrated in FIG. 9 is folded on the basis of the central folding line 21 so that the bottom sheet coating layer 20b becomes the surface, the both end surfaces 25 and 25′ are folded to both end portions of the central folding line 21, and the bottom sheet coating layers 20b of the outside illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 13 are fused to each other in the state in which the both end surfaces 25 and 25′a are folded, thereby completing the bottom sheet. Additionally, the plurality of crests 20f and valleys 20g are continuously formed at the center of the bottom sheet 20 in the width direction so that the length of the bottom sheet 20 is forcedly reduced. Accordingly, the bottom sheet 20 can be easily inserted into the cup body 10.

[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 9, a coated paper is cut in a longitudinal direction, press work is performed to form an indentation portion 13 in a press groove type by folding lines 11 and 11′ and bending lines 12a and 12′a, the center is folded so that edge portions are overlapped, and then, both ends are fused, thereby forming a cup body 10 of a folded form.

[0057] The bottom sheet is folded and edges are fused as illustrated in FIG. 11, the central folding line 21 of the bottom sheet 20 having the plurality of crests 20f and valleys 20g at the center is located up. Thereafter, the bottom sheet is located between the cup body 10 in the state of FIG. 8, the bottom sheet 20 having the crests 20f and the valleys 20g is provided to the inner bottom of the cup body 10 to be easily overlapped without friction with both ends. When the bottom sheet and the cup body are fused by high frequency, the crests 20f and the valleys 20g are pressed to be straightened flat, and end portions of the bottom sheet 20 come into close contact with the folding lines 11 and 11′ of the cup body 10 to be fused.

[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 15, the inner surface of the cup body 10 and the surface of the bottom sheet 20 are further fused in the form of the curved fusion line 20c to be curved downward between the folding lines 11 and 11′. In addition, a bottom fusion band 20d is formed below the curved fusion line 20c to to be spaced apart from the curved fusion line 20c. At a portion where the bottom fusion band 20d and the folding lines 11 and 11′ meet, end portions of the bottom sheet 20 are inserted between front and rear surface based on the folding lines 11 and 11′. The end portions of the bottom sheet 20 are fused in such a way that a fusion column 20e having three sides is formed. The fusion column 20e of the bottom sheet 20 has a column shape which is higher than a fused height of the bottom fusion band 20d but is lower than the lower end of the bending lines 12 and 12′. For example, fusion may be high frequency fusion or ultrasonic fusion, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0059] As illustrated in FIGS. 6, 12 and 15, the bottom sheet 20 fused with the cup body 10 is fused to form the curved fusion line 20c, the bottom fusion band 20d, and the fusion column 20e, and the bottom surface of the bottom fusion band 20d is cut to form a curved bottom 17.

[0060] In a case in which the disposable folding paper cup manufactured as the above is used, when a user presses the bending line 15 in the folded state as illustrated in FIG. 15, the indentation portion 13 is dented inward from the cup body 10, and the formed cup shape illustrated in FIG. 7 is maintained so that the user can use the folding paper cup like a general cup.

[0061] That is, in the folded state, the bottom of the cup body 10 forms the curved bottom 17 like the dotted state of FIG. 12. However, when the user presses the indentation portions 13 and 13′, a bending line 15 and auxiliary bending lines 15-1 and 15-2 are bent to be recessed. So, the upper portion of the cup body 10 is widened to form a circle like a general cup. In this instance, since the lower end portions of the folding lines 11 and 11′ are lifted up from the dotted line state to the solid line state, the widened bottom becomes flat, so that the user can use the folding paper cup in a state in which the cup stands on the floor like a general cup.

[0062] In this case, the fusion column 20e firmly supports the bottom of the cup body 10 like a column to prevent transformation since the lower end portions of the folding lines 11 and 11′ of the cup body 10 are fused with the bottom sheet 20 at three sides (front side, rear side, and lateral side).

[0063] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, in order to manufacture a paper cup, the both end surfaces 25 and 25′ are folded inward and the bottom sheet coating layers 20b are fused to each other, and then, the cup body coating layer 10b and the bottom sheet coating layer 20b of the outer surface of the bottom sheet 20 are fused integrally at three sides inside the cup body 10 (fused such that an upper portion and a lower portion are spaced apart from each other so that the being lines 12a and 12′a are formed at the upper portion and the bottom fusion band 20d is formed at the lower portion). As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, in a case in which the indentation portion 13 is pressed, the both end surfaces 25 are simultaneously fused to the folding lines 11 and 11′ of the cup body 10 and the three sides of the front and rear surfaces to form the fusion column 20e. The bottom surfaces 25 and 25′ fused at the edge portions of the bottom sheet 20 which are not fused to the fusion column 20e maintain the unfolded state since not being fused to the cup body 10 as illustrated in FIG. 14 and not receiving anti-unfolding power, and the edges of the bottom sheet 20 do not have water leak, so that the folding paper cup can be used like a general cup.

[0064] Moreover, since a short axis C1 of the bending lines 12a and 12′a partitioning the indentation portion 13 is larger than an interval B1 between the bending lines, the bending line portion of the cup body 10 forms a bending angle and a bending depth in the form of approximately square shape on the plane. Accordingly, auxiliary bending lines 12a-1 and 12′a-1 are provided to prevent the bending lines 12a and 12′a from being restored or being torn when being suddenly pressed. Since the auxiliary bending lines 12a-1 and 12′a-1 are provided to prevent the bending lines 12a and 12′a from being restored or being torn, pressing power applied only to the bending lines 12a and 12a′ is dispersed, thereby reinforcing a form-maintaining force, and doubly dispersing and absorbing the restoring force applied when the folding paper cup is filled with contents. The auxiliary bending lines 12a-1 and 12′a-1 are located between both end vertical lines of the curved fusion line 20c to support internal pressure applied vertically.

[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 15, a sharp and flat blade shape but an uneven portion 19 is formed at an edge of the upper end of the cup body 10. Since the uneven portion does not have a blade portion, it can prevent a user's lips from being cut. In addition, even when the user drinks hot water, the uneven portion 19 prevents the user's lips from getting scalded since reducing a contact area between the content and the user's lips.

[0066] The disposable folding paper cup according to the present invention can be widely used in an automatic vending machine, in an office, at home, or outdoors, and allows a user to easily store and use.