Two-piece insulated cup
View Patent ↗The present invention generally provides an insulating vessel for beverages. The vessel has an outsert and a insert. The insert is positioned within the cavity of the outsert. In one embodiment the insert has a plurality of insulating members that are spaced from an inner surface of the outsert to define a series of air gaps between an outer surface of the insulating members and the inner surface of the outsert. In another embodiment, the insert and outsert have generally conical side walls with substantially the same taper angle so as to be in a friction lock relationship with one another.
1. An insulating vessel for beverages, the container comprising:
an outsert having a sidewall defining a cavity of the outsert, the sidewall having an inner surface, a first end adjacent an opening of the cavity and a second end opposing the first end; and,
a separate insert positioned within the cavity of the outsert, the insert having a sidewall comprised of a plurality of alternating rib members and insulating members, and a bottom wall extending adjacent a second end of the insert sidewall, wherein at least a portion of the alternating rib members contact the inner surface of the outsert, and wherein the insulating members are spaced a distance from the inner surface of the outsert to define a series of air gaps between an outer surface of the insulating members and the inner surface of the outsert,
wherein the insulating members have a generally arcuate shape comprised of a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, the convex outer surface facing generally radially toward a center of the cavity of the container, and the concave inner surface facing generally radially toward the inner surface of the outsert, and wherein a radius of the arcuate members decreases from the first end of the insert to the second end of the insert.
2. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a rim at a first end of the insert, the rim engaging a portion of the first end of the outsert.
3. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the insulating members comprise generally vertical facets extending between the rib members.
4. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the sidewall of the outsert has an inner diameter, wherein the rib members have an outer surface that has an outside diameter, and wherein the inner diameter of the container sidewall is generally equal to the outside diameter of the rib members at a plurality of horizontal planes.
5. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rib members maintain separate lines of contact with the inner surface of the sidewall of the outsert.
6. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rib members and the insulating members extend vertically about the sidewall of the insert.
7. The insulating vessel of claim 2 , wherein the rim of the insert is connected around a rim of the outsert.
8. The insulating vessel of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the outsert is fit under the rim of the insert.
9. The insulating vessel of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the outsert is connected to the insert at the first end of the insert.
10. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the outsert is made of a paper material.
11. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the insert is made of a thermoformed plastic.
12. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the insert is made of a polymer foam material.
13. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the insert has a straight-wall portion at a first end of the insert, and a transition area between the straight-wall portion and the insulating members to connect a top of the insulating members to the straight-wall portion.
14. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the insert has a necked-down portion adjacent the bottom wall of the insert to provide for stacking of the containers.
15. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the outsert has a bottom wall that is recessed a distance from the second end of the outsert.
16. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall of the insert is spaced a distance from the bottom wall of the outsert.
17. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the air gaps adjacent the insulating members are in fluid communication with a circumferential air gap adjacent the bottom wall of the insert.
18. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein when a cavity of the insert is filled with a liquid having a temperature of about 212° F. and the liquid is allowed to cool to about 190° F. within the liquid receptacle, the temperature of the outer surface of the outsert is no greater than about 140° F.
19. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the sidewall of insert is not fixedly connected to the outsert.
20. The insulating vessel of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the inner surface of the outsert is fixedly connected to the inner surface of the insert with an adhesive.
21. A two-piece container comprising:
a paperboard outsert having a first end, a second end, and a generally conical side wall therebetween, the outsert having a height between the first end and the second end thereof;
a separate plastic insert nested within the outsert, the insert having a first end, a generally conical side wall and a bottom wall at a second end of the outsert which closes a bottom of the insert, the insert further having a height between the first end and the second end thereof, wherein the generally conical side walls of the insert and the outsert have substantially the same taper angle so as to be in a friction lock relationship with one another.
22. The two-piece container of claim 21 , wherein the height of the insert is shorter than the height of the outsert.
23. The two-piece container of claim 21 , wherein the outsert has a bottom wall which closes a bottom of the outsert.
24. The two-piece container of claim 21 , wherein the insert has a rim at the open top end of the side wall thereof, and wherein the outsert has no rim at the first end thereof.
25. The two-piece container of claim 24 , wherein the first end of the sidewall of the outsert is tucked under the rim of the insert.
26. The two-piece container of claim 21 , wherein said paperboard of said outsert is uncoated.
27. The two-piece container of claim 21 , further comprising an adhesive connecting the insert to the outsert.
28. A two-piece container comprising:
a paperboard outsert and a separate plastic insert nested within said outsert, wherein each of said insert and outsert includes a generally conical side wall having an open top end, and a bottom wall which closes a bottom end thereof, wherein said generally conical side walls of said insert and outsert have substantially the same taper angle so as to be in a friction lock relationship with one another.
29. The two-piece container of claim 28 , wherein said insert is made of a thermoformed polystyrene.
30. The two-piece container of claim 29 , wherein said polystyrene is made of a thermoplastic foam.
31. A two-piece container comprising:
a paperboard outsert and a thermoformed plastic insert nested within said outsert, wherein each of said insert and outsert includes a generally conical side wall having an open top end, and a bottom wall which closes a bottom end thereof, and wherein said insert has a shorter height between said top end and said bottom wall thereof as compared to a height of said outsert between said top end and said bottom wall thereof.
32. The two-piece container of claim 31 , wherein said generally conical side walls of said insert and outsert have substantially the same taper angle so as to be in a friction lock relationship with one another.
33. The two-piece container of claim 31 , wherein the outsert is adhesively connected to the insert.
34. A two-piece container comprising:
a paperboard outsert having a sidewall defining an open top end and a bottom wall proximate a bottom end of the sidewall that closes the bottom end, the sidewall defining a height between the top end and the bottom end thereof; and
a separate paperboard insert having a sidewall defining an open top end and a bottom wall proximate a bottom end of the sidewall that closes the bottom end, the sidewall defining a height between the top end and the bottom end thereof, wherein the insert is nested within the outsert such that a space is defined between the bottom wall of the insert and the bottom wall of the outsert, and wherein the outsert is adhesively connected to the insert.
35. The two-piece container of claim 34 , wherein the sidewall of the outsert is generally conical and has a taper angle, and the sidewall of the insert is generally conical and has a taper angle substantially the same as the taper angle of the sidewall of the outsert.
36. The two-piece container of claim 34 , wherein the bottom wall of the outsert is recessed a distance from the bottom end of the sidewall of the outsert.
37. The two-piece container of claim 34 , wherein the insert has a rim at the open top end of the sidewall thereof, and the outsert has no rim at the open top end of the sidewall thereof.
38. The two-piece container of claim 37 , wherein the outsert has a straight edge at the open top end of the sidewall thereof.
39. The two-piece container of claim 38 , wherein the straight edge of the outsert is proximate the rim of the insert.
40. The two-piece container of claim 38 , wherein the straight edge of the outsert is fit under the rim of the insert.
41. The two-piece container of claim 34 , wherein the height of the insert is shorter than the height of the outsert.
42. The two-piece container of claim 34 , wherein the sidewall of the outsert is substantially flat.
43. The two-piece container of claim 34 , wherein a portion of the sidewall of the outsert is adhesively connected to a portion of the sidewall of the insert.
44. The two-piece container of claim 34 , wherein the bottom wall of the insert does not contact the bottom wall of the outsert.