DE20209847U1 - drinking cup - Google Patents

Description

Applicant: Isler & Piesik OHG

Title: Drinking cup

Description

Double-shell vessel

The invention relates to a double-shell vessel, in particular a drinking cup according to the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Vessels of this type are intended as disposable vessels, for example as drinking cups for hot and cold drinks or as soup bowls or pots for food. Since such vessels are intended for single use, they must be as inexpensive to produce as possible and easy to dispose of.

Simple drinking cups made of thin plastic that can be stacked inside one another are well known for this. The disadvantage of these simple drinking cups is that when hot drinks are poured into them, the temperature of the liquid in the cup is almost immediately on the outside of the wall of the cup. This means that the user can easily burn their fingers, especially with hot drinks, and also that the drink in the cup cools down relatively quickly.

To avoid this disadvantage, it is already known to construct such vessels with a double shell, i.e. consisting of an inner part and a

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Patent attorneys Wilcken & VcHIrnonn June 25, 2002

outer part, which are firmly connected to one another, for example in the upper edge area. Although this design leads to significantly better insulating properties of the vessel, it also has its constructional limitations in that at least one of the two cup parts must be ribbed in order to ensure the stability of the structure with the comparatively thin walls. However, these supporting ribs mean that the inner wall lies against the outer wall in a heat-conducting manner, which results in comparatively intensive heat conduction in the area of these supporting ribs, particularly when touching the vessel, i.e. when force is applied to the vessel from the outside.

Against this background, the invention is based on the object of designing a double-shell vessel of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the insulating effect is improved by simple and cost-effective means without increasing the wall thickness of the plastic material.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims of the following description and the drawing.

The basic idea of the present invention is to incorporate an intermediate wall at least between the outer wall and the inner wall of the double-shell vessel, which prevents direct heat transfer between the outer wall and the inner wall. Such an intermediate wall can be incorporated without or at least with minor structural changes to the inner and/or outer part of the vessel, can be produced inexpensively as a cut-to-size piece and also increases the stability of the vessel if the cut-to-size piece is sufficiently rigid. Depending on the choice of material for the intermediate wall, more or less additional insulation can be achieved.

Patent Attorneys Wilcken &V«(lnann· «··*··' June 25, 2002

The outer part is preferably transparent, at least in the area of the outer wall. Then, regardless of the insulating effect, the partition can be designed as a printing carrier, so that in order to apply a design, an advertising slogan or other marking, the outside of the vessel does not have to be printed on in a complex manner as is usual in the prior art, but a print can be applied to the partition. This is particularly advantageous if, as is provided according to the invention, the partition is formed as a cut from flat material and only receives its spatial shape when it is inserted between the inner part and the outer part. Then the partition can be processed using a technically simple and widely used flat printing process, for example in a conventional inkjet printer, in a laser printer or the like, or also in an offset printing process. Since the marking is protected in the finished vessel between the inner and outer walls, simple, e.g. water-soluble colors can be used without the risk of them smudging during later use.

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For example, designs for such cups can be created individually by providing a set consisting of an outer part and inner part as well as a sheet of micro-perforated paper and the corresponding software, so that the user can design the cut-out on site by hand or with the help of his PC and printing device. This cut-out is then inserted into the outer part, after which the inner part is pushed in and connected to it in a snap-fit manner.

For this purpose, the edge of the inner and outer parts is expediently designed so that they engage with each other in a locking manner, preferably in such a way that

Patent attorneys Wilcken & \kltmann· June 25, 2002

that the edge of the inner part completely overlaps that of the outer part, so that the latter cannot be felt when drinking.

In the manner described above, it is possible to provide vessels and drinking cups with an individual print at low cost, even in small quantities.

In order to impair the view from the outside to the partition wall as little as possible, it is advisable to move the usual ribbing of the outer part to the inner part so that the appearance of the outer wall is as smooth as possible. In order to increase stability, support ribs are then provided on the inner part, in the area of the inner wall, which hold the partition wall between the inner part and the outer part.

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For reasons of stackability, the vessel according to the invention is expediently designed in the shape of a truncated cone, so that before joining, the inner part and the outer part can each be stacked in separate columns and after the joining process can be stacked in a common column.

The partition wall can be printed both on the outside and on the inside; in the latter case, it is advisable to also make the inner part out of transparent plastic and, if supporting ribs are to be provided, to arrange and/or design them in such a way that they impair the view of the partition wall as little as possible.

In terms of both insulation and visual impact, it may be desirable to provide a partition wall in the form of a false floor in the floor area. Here, too, a blank made of paper, cardboard, foil or the like can be provided, which also forms a printing carrier. In particular,

Patent attorneys Wilcken & VetlniaVtn * ** * June 25, 2002

This is advantageous if the bottom of the inner part is transparent and, if possible, smooth-walled, so that the printed motif on the intermediate floor can be seen during or after drinking. The profiling is then conveniently provided on the outer floor if this is necessary or appropriate for reasons of stability. If, however, the advertising effect for third parties when drinking is important, the bottom of the outer part can also be transparent and the intermediate wall can be printed on its underside.

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Both the inner and outer parts are made entirely of transparent plastic and the print media in the wall and base area are printed on both sides. The entire vessel can then be given an individual design, depending on the design of the print media.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment shown in the drawing.

Fig. 1 the inner part of a double-shell drinking cup in

ten view

Fig. 2 the outer part of the double-shell drinking cup in side

side view,
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Fig. 3 a printed blank for a partition wall,

Fig. 4 the joining of the components shown in Figs. 1 to 3

Components in side view and
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Fig. 5 a fully assembled, double-shell drinking cup in

Side view.

Patent attorneys Wilcken & VeUmann·· ·«·*··* ·· · 25.0o.2002

The double-walled drinking cup shown in the figures consists of an inner part 1, an outer part 2 and an intermediate wall 3 which is formed by cutting the shape shown in Fig. 3 (ring segment). The inner part 1 and outer part 2 are designed in a conventional manner as plastic molded parts and are comparatively thin-walled; they only achieve the dimensional stability required for a drinking cup after they are joined together. Both parts 1 and 2 have a truncated cone-shaped contour and the same cone angle, meaning that both the inner part 1 and the outer parts 2 as well as the fully assembled cups 4 can be stacked one inside the other to save space. The wall 5 of the inner part 1 forms the inner wall of the cup 4, the wall 6 of the outer part 2 forms the outer wall. The inner part 1 has a smooth base 7, whereas the outer part has a profiled base 8, as can be seen from Fig. 2. The wall 5 of the inner part 1 is provided with ribs 9 running longitudinally to the cup axis, the outer sides of which rest against the intermediate wall 3 in the assembled state of the cup 4, which in turn rests against the inner side of the outer wall 6 of the cup 4, i.e. against the wall 6 of the outer part 2.

The inner part 1 has a circumferential upper edge 10, and the outer part 2 also has a circumferential edge 11 with a round cross-section. In the assembled state, the edge 10 overlaps the edge 11, so that a rounded end edge is formed, which at the same time forms a locking connection between the inner part 1 and the outer part 2 and connects these components to one another by incorporating the intermediate wall 3.

In order to facilitate the joining process when producing the snap-in connection and to avoid an air cushion forming in the final phase when the inner part 1 is inserted into the outer part 2, recesses 12 are provided in the edge 11 of the outer part 2, through which the air between the components can escape.

Patent attorneys Wilcken & VotlmaTM June 25, 2002

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The cup 4 is assembled in such a way that first an outer part 2 is taken, into which the blank 3 is inserted as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the printed blank 3 either abut one another or overlap slightly. The inner part 1 is then pushed in until the edges 10 and 11 lock together and the cup 4 is formed with the incorporation of the intermediate wall 3.

If, as not shown in the present embodiment, an intermediate floor is to be additionally incorporated, this is inserted on the floor side before the inner part 1 is inserted into the outer part 2.

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• · • ·

Patent attorneys Wilcken & VeHlrficfniv .;.."..*···· *··' June 25, 2002

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Reference symbol

1 inner part

2 Exterior part

3 Partition 4 Cup

5 Interior wall

6 Exterior wall

7 Inner floor part

8 Outer base part 9 Ribs

10 Inner edge part

11 Outer edge part

12 recesses in

Patent attorneys Wilcken &Ve»ma?ifT· ·!··'··" 2506 2002

Claims (11)

1. Double-shell vessel, in particular a drinking cup, with an inner part ( 1 ) forming the inner wall ( 5 ) and with an outer part ( 2 ) forming the outer wall ( 6 ), which are formed as plastic molded parts and are connected to one another at least at their upper edge ( 10 , 11 ), characterized in that an intermediate wall ( 3 ) is incorporated at least in sections between the outer wall ( 6 ) and the inner wall ( 5 ). 2. Vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer part ( 2 ) is transparent at least in the region of the outer wall ( 6 ). 3. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate wall ( 3 ) is formed by a flat blank, preferably made of paper. 4. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate wall ( 3 ) is formed by a pressure carrier. 5. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner part ( 1 ) is provided with supporting ribs ( 9 ) on the inner wall ( 5 ). 6. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer part ( 2 ) and the inner part ( 1 ) each have an edge ( 10 , 11 ) which is rounded in cross section and which are dimensioned such that they engage with one another in a locking manner. 7. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a frustoconical outer contour and that the intermediate wall ( 3 ) is formed by a cut which corresponds to the development of the frustoconical shell. 8. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an intermediate bottom is provided which is incorporated between the outer bottom ( 8 ) and the inner bottom ( 7 ). 9. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the bottom ( 7 ) of the inner part ( 1 ) is transparent and the intermediate bottom is formed by a pressure carrier. 10. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner part ( 1 ) and the outer part ( 2 ) are transparent. 11. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing carrier is printed on both sides.