GB2076278A

GB2076278A - Container or cup

Info

Publication number: GB2076278A
Application number: GB8015558A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Roboserve Ltd
Current assignee: Roboserve Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-10
Filing date: 1980-05-10
Publication date: 1981-12-02
Also published as: GB2076278B

Abstract

A nestable, resilient, yieldable, foamed thermoplastic container or cup for a vending machine is provided, having an endless groove (28) defined by a wall groove (14) and complementary means (36) extending from the inside and outside surfaces of the container or cup wall or walls, the groove penetrating the container or cup wall through either the inner or outer surface of the cup wail a predetermined distance from the bottom (16) of the container or cup, the complementary means (36) extending from the other surface of the cup wall for locking in the groove of a like container or cup when nested with the other container or cup, the complementary means conforming in shape to the groove, the part (30) of the groove wall first engaged by the complementary means when like containers or cups are nested, extending towards and intermediate part (32) of the groove wall and radially in the direction towards the surface of the cup wall from which the complementary means extends to form an entry ramp (30), and the part (38) of the complementary means first engaging the groove wall extending away from the surface of the cup wall from which it extends, curving in substantially the same manner as the part (30) of the groove wail first engaged by the complementary means forming the entry ramp. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container or cup This invention relates to foamed thermoplastic containers and cups capable of being nested one into the other to protect comestibles contained in the containers and cups from the atmosphere.

There is a growing demand for vending machines which dispense both hot and cold beverages made from fresh ingredients. Different approaches have been taken to protect the ingredients in the dispenser. One approach is the storage of bulk concentrate for discharge into a cup to which water is subsequently added. The drawbacks with this approach are, the constant atmospheric contact with the concentrate, with consequent increase of moistness and loss of flavour, and the variance of the amount of concentrate discharged into each cup.

A different and newer approach has been to provide stacks of beverage concentrate containing cups stored for dispensing by vending machines. Each cup contains a premeasured amount of beverage concentrate. Since the concentrate is closed by the upper cup, as for example, by a force fit between the upper and lower cups, the concentrate is somewhat protected from the atmosphere. However, the separation of the cups for discharge becomes more difficult -- the greater the seal the more difficult the separation.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide foamed thermoplastic containers and cups capable of stacking with other containers and cups respectively, to protect comestibles or beverage concentrates at the bottom of the lower container or cup, into which an upper container or cup is to be nested, which containers and cups also easily dispensed from a dispenser and more easily separable from one another.

According to one aspect of the invention, resilient, yieldable, nestable foamed thermoplastic containers and cups are provided, each container or cup as the case may be having an endless groove defined by a groove wall and complementary means (for example, an endless lug) extending from the inside and outside surfaces of the container or cup wall, the groove penetrating the container or cup wall through either the inner or outer surface of the cup wall a predetermined distance from the bottom of the container or cup, the complementary means extending from the other surface of the cup wall for locking in the groove of a like container or cup when nested with the other container or cup, the complementary means conforming in shape to, and being at least as large and preferably being slightly larger in size than, the groove, the part of the groove wall first engaged by the complementary means when like containers or cups are nested, extending towards an intermediate portion of the groove wall and radially in the direction towards the surface of the cup wall from which the complementary means extends to form an entry ramp, and the part of the complementary means first engaging the groove wall extending away from the surface of the cup wall from which it extends, curving in substantially the same manner as the part of the groove wall first engaged by the complementary means (as, for example, when that part of the groove wall forming the entry ramp is a sloped planar ramp, that part of the complementary means first engaging the entry ramp forms a correspondingly sloped planar ramp) and of a length greater that the part of the groove wall first engaged by the complementary means forming the entry ramp and preferably at least 10% greater in length than the entry ramp.

According to a preferred form of the invention, when the groove penetrates the outside surface of the container or cup wall, the complementary means extends inwardly from the inside surface of the cup wall and is of an inner diameter at its maximum width slightly less than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall. Additionally, the part of the groove first engaged by the complementary means forming the ramp is adjacent the bottom of the groove and that part of the groove wall extends upwardly and radially inwardly to an intermediate part of the groove and the part of complementary means first engaging the groove wall curves in the same manner.

According to another preferred feature, when the groove penetrates the inside surface of the container or cup wall, the complementary means extends outwardly from the outside surface of the container or cup wall and is of an outer diameter at its maximum width slightly greater than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall. Additionally the part of the groove first engaged by the complementary means forming an entry ramp is at the top of the groove and that part of the groove extends downwardly and radially outwardly to an intermediate portion of the groove and the part of the complementary means first engaging the groove wall curves in the same manner.

According to a preferred form of the invention, resilient, yieldable, nestable foamed ther rnoplastic containers and cqps are provided, each container or cup as the case may be having an endless groove defined by a groove wall spaced from the bottom of the container or cup, extending radially outwardly from the inside wall of the container or cup, penetrating the container or cup wall, endless comple mentary means extending around the outside surface of the container or cup respectively, at the bottom of the container or cup, the com plementary means conforming in shape and being at least as large, and preferably being slightly larger in size than the groove, and being of an outer diameter at its maximum width slightly greater than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall, for locking into the groove of a lower like container or cup, when the containers or cups are nested together.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, at least an upper portion of the groove wall remote the bottom extends radially outwardly and downwardly from the top of the groove away from the interior of the container or cup, to form an entry ramp preferably to form a sloped planar entry ramp, leading radially outwardly and downwardly towards the bottom of the cup and the upper part of complementary means extends radially outwardly and downwardly curving in substantially the same manner as the upper part of the groove (being planar and angled at the same angle, when the upper portion of the groove wall forms a sloped planar ramp) but of a length greater than the upper part of the groove preferably at least about 10% longer.

Preferably, when the containers or cups are nested, and the complementary means locked in the groove, the outer side wall of the inner container or cup is spaced from the inner wall of the outer container or cup.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, a downwardly directed ledge may be provided on the outside wall of the container or cup, adjacent the mouth of the container or cup, for rigidity and which ledge preferably seats on the mouth rim of a lower container or cup, when the containers or cups are nested and the complementary means locked in the groove.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, an upwardly directed ledge may be provided on the inside wall of the container or cup, below the groove or complementary means as the case may be, between the bottom of the container or cup as the case may be and the groove or complementary means, preferably just below the lowest part of the groove or complementary means.

Therefore, when two containers or cups are to be nested, the upper container or cup is pressed into the lower container or cup with the complementary means being slightly compressed by the inner wall of the lower container or cup until it is partially restored to its original configuration when it snaps into the groove. At the,same time, as the complementary means snaps into the groove, the downwardly directed ledge (if employed), preferably seats on the annular rim of the container or cup.

Embodiments of cup, in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with preference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stack of cups nested one into the other according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cup according to the preferred embodiment of the invention with a portion cut away to show the cross-section of the cup wall and bottom; Figure 3 is a cross-section taken through a stack of two nested cups according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a close-up view of a portion of the cup shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cup according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a stack of two cups partially nested, each cup constructed according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a close-up view of part of the cup shown in Fig. 5; Figure 8 is a cross-section view of a stack of two nested cups; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional close-up view of part of a cup according to another embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 3, there is shown a stack of cups 10, each cup 1 2 (shown best in Figs. 2 and 4) being made of resilient, yieldable foamed thermoplastic polystyrene material and having a side wall 14, bottom 16, upper flange 1 8 forming rim 20 defining mouth 22. On the underside of flange 18, is a downwardly directed shoulder or ledge 26.

Extending outwardly from the inner wall of cup 1 2 and spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom is endless groove 28 defined by groove wall 29 seen best in Fig. 4 having radially outwardly sloped entry ramp portion 30, sloped at 15 to the vertical, and being .015 inches (0.38 cms) long, vertically oriented intermediate portion 32 .048 inches (.122 cms) long and radially inwardly directed lower portion 34 angled at 20 to the horizontal and being 0.14 inches (.036 cms) long.

At the base of the cup 1 2 forming an endless protuberance extending from side wall 14 at the juncture with the bottom 1 6 is complementary means or endless lug 36, having an upper portion 38 being .017 inches (.043 cms) (.002 inches (.005 cms) longer than portion 30 of groove wall 29) and angled at the same angle as portion 30, intermediate portion 40 angled at the same angle as portion 32 and of the same length, and portion 42, .015 inches (.038 cms) long angled in the same manner as portion 34 of groove wall 29.

The taper of the inner wall and outer wall of each cup 12 is 9" to the vertical.

The bottom 1 6 of cup 1 2 has, traverse portion 44 spaced from the bottom lug 36, and angled portion 46 angled 15 to the horizontal, connecting complementary lug 36 to the horizontal portion. Each cup 1 2 has outer and inner diameters at its mouth of 2.915 inches (7.404 cms) and 2.780 inches (7.061 cms) respectively and outer and inner diameters at the bottom of 1.957 inches (4.971 cms) and 1.829 inches (4.646 cms) respectively (excluding the rim and complementary means).

In use, a comestible is deposited in the bottom of cup -12 and another cup is inserted into the cup containing the comestible. As the upper cup is pressed into the lower cup to seal the ingredients, complementary means or lug 36 is compressed (being slightly wider than the space between the two nested cups) until the protuberance snaps into groove 28.

At that point, ledge 26 seats on rim 20 of the lower cup. When one cup is to be dispensed downwardly, downwardly directed pressure is exerted on the upper rim 20 of the lower cup causing ramp 38 of the upper cup to climb up ramp 30 distorting portion 40 so that the tight seal between the components is broken, permitting the lower cup to fall. Because the dimensions of the cup have been chosen to space the inner wall of the outer cup from the outer wall of the inner cup when the lug is locked in the groove (see Fig. 3) the nested cups separate easily.

With reference to Fig. 5, there is shown another cup 52 according to another embodiment of the invention made of resilient foamed thermoplastic polystyrene material and having side wall 54, bottom 56, upper bulbous flange 58 forming rim 60 defining mouth 62 of cup 52. On the inner surface of wall 64 of cup 52 and spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom (see Fig. 7) is endless groove 68 defined by groove wall 69 having downwardly and radially outwardly sloped entry ramp 70, sloped at 15 to the vertical and being .017 inches (.043 cms) long, and intermediate vertically extending portion .048 inches (,122) cms) long connected to horizontally extending inwardly directed ledge 72, .066 inches (.168 cms) wide, ledge 72 for acting as a scavenging ledge for supporting a scavenging disc for scavenging comestibles found above the level of the ledge after the filling cycle has been completed.

At the base of cup 52 forming an endless protuberance extending from side wall 54 at bottom 56 is complementary means or endless lug 76 having downwardly and radially outwardly extending side surface.or ramp 78, sloped at 15 to the vertical and being .019 inches (.048 cms) long and intermediate vertical portion 79 .048 inches (.122 cms) long.

The taper of the inner surface and outer surface of side wall 54 of each cup 52 is 9" to the vertical. The bottom 56 of each cup 52 has a traverse portion 80 spaced from lug 76 and, angled portions 82 angled 40 to the horizontal connecting lug 76 to the traverse portion 80. Each cup has the same outer and inner diameters as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.

In use, once again a comestible is deposited in the bottom of cup 52. However, the addi tion of the ledge permits the use of a scaveng ing disc for scavenging comestible found above the level of the ledge after the filling cycle has been completed. In this case, when the upper nesting cup is pressed into the lower cup, until the lug 76 locks into groove 68, bottom 56 is spaced from ledge 72 (see Fig. 8).

With reference to Fig. 9, part of a cup 1 21 is shown having endless groove 28' defined by groove wall 291 extending inwardly from the outer surface of wall 141 adjacent bottom 1 61 and complementary means 36' extending inwardly from the inner surface of cup wall 141. Each of groove 281 and complementary means 36' has a shape the reverse (mirror image in a plane taken traverse the length of the cup) of the shape of groove 28 and complementary means 36 respectively.Particularly, entry ramp upper portion 30 corre sponds to equal length entry ramp lower portion 30' inwardly sloped at 1 5' to the vertical, intermediate vertical portion 32 to intermediate vertical portion 32', and lower portion 34 corresponds to equal length upper portion 34' angled at 20 to the horizontal.

Similarly, complementary means 361 has cor responding lower equal length portion 381 (to portion 38 of Fig. 4), intermediate vertical portion 401 (to portion 40) and upper portion 42' to portion 42.

In use, an upper cup 121 is pressed into a lower cup compressing the lug or complemen tary means 361 on the inner surface of the outer cup until complementary means 36' snaps into groove 281 of the inner cup.

As many changes could be made in the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, is is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted as illus trative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A nestable, resilient, yieldable, foamed thermoplastic container or cup having an end less groove defined by a groove wall and complementary means extending from the in side and outside surfaces of the container or cup cup wall or walls, the groove penetrating the container or cup wall through either the inner or outer surface of the cup wall a predeter mined distance from the bottom of the con tainer or cup, the complementary means ex tending from the other surface of the cup wall for locking in the groove of a like container or cup when nested with the other container or cup, the complementary means conforming in shape to the groove, the part of the groove wall first engaged by the complementary means when like containers or cups are nested, extending towards an intermediate part of the groove wall and radially in the direction towards the surface of the cup wall from which the complementary means extends to form an entry ramp, and the part of the complementary means first engaging the groove wall extending away from the surface of the cup wall from which it extends, curving in substantially the same manner as the part of the groove wall first engaged by the complementary means forming the entry ramp.

2. The container or cup of Claim 1, wherein the complementary means conforms in shape to the groove and is slightly larger in size than the groove.

3. The container or cup of Claim 1, wherein the part of the complementary means first engaging the groove wall is of a length greater than the part of the groove forming the entry ramp.

4. The container or cup of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the complementary means first engaging the groove wall is of a length greater by at least about 10% than the part of the groove forming the entry ramp.

5. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the groove penetrates the outside surface of the container or cup wall, the complementary means extends radially inwardly from the inside wall and is of an inner diameter at its maximum width slightly less than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall, the part of the groove wall forming the entry ramp is adjacent the bottom of groove and that part of the groove wall extends upwardly and radially inwardly to an intermediate part of the groove, and the part of the complementary means first engaging the groove wall curves in the same manner.

6. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the groove penetrates the inside surface of the container or cup wall, the complementary means extends outwardly from the outer surface of the container or cup wall and is of an outer diameter at its maximum width slightly greater than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall, the part of the groove wall forming an entry ramp being at the top of the groove and that part of the groove wall extends downwardly and radially outwardly to an intermediate portion of the groove and the part of the complementary means first engaging the groove wall curves in the same manner.

7. The container or cup of any preceding Claim, wherein the part of each groove forming an entry ramp and the correspondingly shaped portion of the complementary means are each planar.

8. The container or cup of any preceding Claim, wherein the part of each groove forming an entry ramp and the correspondingly shaped portion of the complementary means are each sloped at substantially 15 to the vertical.

9. A nestable, resilient, yieldable, foamed thermoplastic container or cup, having an endless groove defined by a groove wall spaced from the bottom or the container or cup, extending radially outwardly from the inside surface of the container or cup wall, penetrating the container or cup wall, and endless complementary means extending around the outside of the container or cup respectively, at or proximate the bottom of the container or cup, the complementary means conforming in shape and being at least as large as the groove, and being of an outer diameter at its maximum width slightly greater than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall for locking in the groove of a lower like container or cup when the containers or cups are nested together, at least an upper portion of the groove wall remote the bottom of the container or cup extending radially outwardly and downwardly from the top of the groove away from the interior of the container or cup towards the bottom of the container or cup forming an entry ramp and the upper part of the complementary means extending radially outwardly and downwardly curving substantially in the same manner, or being angled at the same angle, as the upper part of the groove wall.

10. The container or cup of Claim 9, wherein the complementary means conforms in shape to the groove and is slightly larger in size than the groove.

11. The container or cup of Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the upper part of each of the groove and the complementary means are planar.

1 2. The container or cup of Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the upper part of each of the groove and the complementary means are sloped at substantially 15 to the vertical.

1 3. The container or cup of any of Claims 9 to 12, wherein the upper part of the complementary means is of a greater length than the upper part of the groove wall.

14. The container or cup of Claim 13, wherein the upper part of the complementary means is of a greater length than the upper part of the groove wall forming the entry ramp by at least 10% of that part of the groove wall's length.

1 5. The container or cup of any preceding Claim, wherein the container or cup has an endless rim surrounding its mouth and a downwardly directed ledge for rigidifying the container or cup.

16. The container or cup of any Claims 1 to 14, wherein the container or cup has an endless rim surrounding its mouth and a downwardly directed ledge for rigidifying the container or cup and for seating on the mouth rim of a lower container or cup, when the container or cups are nested and the complementary means locked in the groove.

1 7. The container or cup of any preceding Claim, wherein an upwardly directed ledge is provided on the inside wall of the container or cup below the groove or complementary means between the bottom of the container or cup and the groove or complementary means.

1 8. The container or cup of Claim 17, wherein the ledge is just below the lowest part of the groove.

19. A container or cup substantially as described herein, with reference to or as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, 5 to 8 or 9 of the accompanying drawings.