US 5,203,490 A · Hot cup with heat-insulating hand-grip

Abstract

A hot cup made of paper has a handle-section that extends approximately 180 degrees about the circumference of the exterior surface of the hot cup. The handle-section is provided with a plurality of punched-out securing tabs, by which the handle-section is permanently connected to respective surface-portions of the exterior surface of the hot cup. Each tab is comprised of two sections: A first, flat section which is actually connected to the respective surface-portion of the exterior surface of the cup, and a second section connected to the first section by a fold-line, so that the second section of each tab may be rotated with respect to the first section. This arrangement allows the handle section to lie flat against the exterior surface of the cup when the cup is not being used, and allows a number of these cups to be stacked one inside the other for storage and shipping. This arrangement also allows one to pull the handle-section away from its flush, surface-to-surface contact with the exterior surface of the cup, so that, except for the first sections of the tabs, the handle-section is spaced from the exterior surface of the cup. This spacing of the handle-section allows a person to hold the cup by gripping the spaced handle-section, whereby the air between the cup's exterior surface and the handle-section provides a thermal barrier to the heat emanating from the hot liquid contents in the cup proper.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a cup for holding liquid comprising a main, hollow receptacle-portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a handle-section, wherein the improvement comprises:

said handle-section comprising an arcuate, hand-gripping member spanning about a circumferential portion of said main, hollow receptacle-portion, and a mounting means for connecting said hand-gripping member to portions of said main, hollow receptacle-portion;
said mounting means rotatably mounting said hand-gripping member relative to said main, hollow receptacle-portion, whereby said hand-gripping member may be rotated to a position spaced from the exterior surface of said main, hollow receptacle-portion;
said mounting means comprising a plurality of tabs, each said tab having a first section connected to a respective portion of said exterior surface of said main, hollow receptacle-portion, and a second section having a first end connected to said first section, and a second end connected to a respective portion of said hand-gripping member;
said second section of each of said plurality of tabs being pivotal with respect to the respective said first section, whereby said hand-gripping member may be rotated relative to said main, hollow receptacle-portion and be spaced therefrom, in order to provide a thermal-insulating, air-space barrier;
each said tab being punched out from a respective portion of said hand-gripping member, said hand-gripping member having a plurality of cut-outs formed when said tabs were punched out.

2 more elements

In a cup for holding liquid comprising a main, hollow receptacle-portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a handle-section, wherein the improvement comprises:

said handle-section comprising an arcuate, hand-gripping member spanning about a circumferential portion of said main, hollow receptacle-portion, and a mounting means for connecting said hand-gripping member to portions of said main, hollow receptacle-portion;
said mounting means rotatably mounting said hand-gripping member relative to said main, hollow receptacle-portion, whereby said hand-gripping member may be rotated to a position spaced from the exterior surface of said main, hollow receptacle-portion;
said handle-section further comprising latching means for retaining said hand-gripping in its rotated, spaced-apart position;
said latching means for retaining said hand-gripping member in its rotated, spaced-apart position comprising a detent-member projecting from a portion of said exterior surface of said main, hollow receptacle-portion;
said hand-gripping member comprising a cooperating member for cooperating with said detent-member, whereby said detent-member retains said hand-gripping member in its rotated, spaced-apart position.

2 more elements

A method of using a cup, which cup comprises a main, hollow receptacle-portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a handle-section, which handle-section comprises an arcuate, hand-gripping member spanning about a substantial circumferential portion of the main, hollow receptacle-portion, and a mounting means for connecting the hand-gripping member to portions of the main, hollow receptacle-portion, the mounting means rotatably mounting the hand-gripping member relative to said main, hollow receptacle-portion, said method comprising:

(a) rotating the hand-gripping member of the handle-section in a first direction via the mounting means relative to the main, hollow receptacle-portion;
(b) said step (a) comprising spacing the hand-gripping member from the exterior surface of the main, hollow receptacle-portion as the hand-gripping member from the exterior surface of the main, hollow receptacle-portion as the hand-gripping member is rotated relative to the main, hollow receptacle-portion;
and
(c) said step (b) comprising forming a thermal-insulating barrier of air-space between the hand-gripping member and the main, hollow receptacle=portion;
(d) holding the hand-gripping member by hand, in order to hold the cup;
and
(e) drinking from the cup while performing said step (d);
said step (d) comprising holding the hand-gripping member such that only an exterior surface of the hand-gripping member is contacted by the hand, an interior surface of the hand contacting at least most of the exterior surface of the hand-gripping member, said hand enwraps a hand about the exterior surface of a cup proper without a handle-section in order to hold it.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hot cup with heat-insulating hand-grip

Life of this patent

Hot cup with heat-insulating hand-grip

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20