CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of my co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/849,262 filed on May 20, 2004 and entitled Pleated Disposable Paper Cup

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present application relates to disposable cups or like containers or receptacles, methods of manufacture thereof, and the use of such cups.

2. Background Information

Disposable cups and like containers are in use at most of the common fast food outlets and are accordingly in wide-spread use. The main concern with such cups is the safe handling of the cup when it contains a hot liquid such as coffee.

Thus, one manner to protect a user of a cup containing a hot liquid comprises double-cupping which is widely used in the industry to solve the problem of cups being too hot to handle safely. Further, supplementary insulating sleeves such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473 represent another method that has been employed to make paper cups safer to use when filled with hot contents. Multi-layered paper cups have also been designed to provide insulation between hot liquid contents and a user's hand, such as, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,523 to Shikaya, 1995; No. 5,205,473 to Coffin, Sr., 1993; No. 5,547,124 to Mueller, 1996; No. 5,769,311 to Norika et al., 1998; No. 5,775,577 to Titus, 1998; and No. 6,378,766 to Sadlier, 2002.

The coffee industry is further organized in such a way that larger quantities of coffee are brewed, say in espresso machines or brewing vessels, and portions of hot coffee are dispensed for a buyer. Thus there arises the problem that the coffee may be held in a state of a heated condition that possibly may render the dispensed portion of coffee in a somewhat stale condition when dispensed for a buyer.

OBJECTS

It is a primary object of the present application to provide a disposable paper cup which is of a more effective and efficient configuration in terms of insulating a user from the hot liquid than those mentioned herein above, and to alleviate the problems associated with the need to provide insulation between cups or containers which contain hot or cold contents and a hand of a user.

It is still another object of the present application to provide a disposable paper or card-stock material cup which is aesthetically attractive, distinctive, and simple in construction, and in which insulation qualities have been incorporated into the structure and design of the cup to protect the hand of a user from the hot or cold content of the cup, without the need for supplementary insulating sleeves or double-cupping.

It is also an object to provide an arrangement enabling a user to prepare a personal cup of a freshly prepared and non-aged coffee or similar drink.

SUMMARY

The primary feature of the present application provides a substantially improved insulation quality by a main, cylindrical body component with a wall structure that has a zigzag pleated shape to allow airflow between the full body of the cup and a hand of a user. Also, contact between a hand of a user and the main body of the cup is minimized to the outer points of the pleats or ridges of the body, thereby substantially reducing the surface area of the cup which may be heated or cooled by the content of the cup while also contacting a hand of a user. Accordingly, safety and ease of use are greatly improved.

The object may also be accomplished by a container for holding hot liquids, cold liquids, food items, and the like, said container comprising: a wall structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the finished condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; and said wall structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the finished condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or to cold to a hand of a user.

In one aspect at least one object may further be accomplished by a disposable container for holding hot liquids, cold liquids, food items, and the like, said container comprising: a structure having a length dimension and a width dimension greater than said width dimension in the unassembled condition of said container and being configured to form a cylindrical shaped body with a top and a bottom remote from said top by said width dimension; said structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; said structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or to cold to a hand of a user; a bottom structure being configured and disposed to close said bottom of said container; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to form a mouth portion at said top of said container.

There is also provided a disposable container wherein said stock structure comprises a card stock, a paper stock or a paper-like material as known in the art with at least one moisture repellant side. Such material may, in one embodiment of my application, be a biodegradable material. In one embodiment, the cup is made of a paperboard having a coating comprising a thin layer of polyethylene. In one embodiment, the paperboard is coated on both sides with polyethylene. It will be appreciated that the present application is fully applicable to a cup such as is known as a cup having the marking: NO. 2346P37636 DIXIEÂ® GEORGIA-Pacific CORPORATION BRAMPTON, ONTARION MADE IN CANADA K; or as a cup having the marking: MANUFACTURED BY CONFERENCE CUP LTD. LONDON, CANADA 350-9517-G; or as cup having the marking: a MADE BY/FABRIQUE PAR SOLO CUP CO., CHICAGO, Ill., U.S.A. C NO 372STO75 A-2 12 oz (355 ml) SPECIAL DESIGN HOT CUP; or as a cup having the marking 10HT4 LILY Toronto, Canada lily@sweetheart.com L1459; or as a cup having the marking: 575HTB Lily Toronto, Canada lily@sweetheart.com L1459; or as a cup having the marking ROLL UP THE RIM TO WINN and that does not have further identifying markings; or as a cup having the marking: 2346 LAMES RIVER INC. BRAMPTON; ONTARIO D.S. 9277; or as a cup having the marking: Â© 2003 McDonald's Corporation (13159) 3, including a sleeve according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473; or a cup having the marking Â© 1997 SOLO CUP CO., CHICAGO, Ill., U.S.A. NO. 378S1 8 oz (237 ml) HOT CUP, or as a cup having the marking NO. 185, FLOWING FLOWERSÂ© FORT JAMES CORPORATION, MADE IN U.S.A. E; or as a cup having the marking: DART A00 o77 12J12. Such cups are widely used at least in Canada by various fast food outlets. Such cups and their material of construction are hereby incorporate by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

There is also provided a disposable container according to one embodiment wherein said ridges and valleys comprise at least one of isosceles ridges and valleys and rounded ridges and valleys.

There is also provided a disposable container wherein said ridges and valleys have a height dimension of approximately one quarter of an inch.

There is also provided a method of producing a container with a zigzag shaped, pleated body or sidewall component of a paper or card stock material, or paper-like material, which method comprises placing the blank cut to predetermined dimensions across the cavity of a die set, and then lowering the top part of the die set on top of the card stock or blank so that the weight of the top part of the die set pushes the card stock into the shape of said cavity to form a predetermined piece of pleated cardstock. The piece of card stock thereby shaped and produced will herein also be called the cylindrical sidewall component of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a pre-cut card stock in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 2 illustrates a pre-cut card stock having been pressed in a form which creates parallel folds in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom component of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 4 illustrates a mouthpiece structure for the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 5 represents a large sheet of paper card stock from which is stamped the trapezoidal shaped sidewall of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 6 illustrates two halves of a die form configured to press the pleats into the paper card stock in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 7 illustrates joining of the opposite edges of the paper card stock to form the cylindrical body of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 8 illustrates a step of the manufacturing process through which a pre-engineered metal drop is used to position the bottom component of the cup next to the cylindrical body in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 9 illustrates the step of gluing together of the bottom component of the cup to the cylindrical body of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my application;

FIG. 10 illustrates application of a staple for further strengthening the bond between the bottom component of the cup and the cylindrical body in accordance with one embodiment of my application; and

FIG. 11 depicts the mouthpiece of the cup being glued to the cylindrical body of the cup in accordance with one embodiment of my application.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a cup assembly with lid in fully assembled condition for drinking of the contained brew;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view showing the individual components of the lid that is configured to prepare an individual potable portion of a drink for a user;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view showing the assembled lid and a cup for receiving the assembled lid;

FIG. 15 is a section view through a lid or top structure that is configured to retain a pod arrangement that, in turn, is configured to contain a single portion of coffee for use by a user;

FIG. 16 is a section view showing a molded plastic casing that is configured to receive a paper filter containing coffee or tea, for example;

FIG. 17 is a section view indicating the securing of the assembly of FIG. 16 to the lid or top structure of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of an arrangement to prepare a cup or mug for use with a pod using an adapter in accordance with one aspect of my application; and

FIG. 19 is a section view of an arrangement to prepare a freshly brewed portion of coffee for a user by adding water with a container configured to add a liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 represents pre-cut card stock that possibly may have a moisture-repellant wax layer on one side, that is, the side that is to be in contact with the content of the finished container. Such card stock is universally employed in the manufacture of disposable cups. The card stock may be punched into a trapezoidal sector shape. The exterior side of the pre-cut card stock is generally un-waxed so that decorative graphics or advertising can readily be printed thereon.

The cut blank 10 has an upper edge 12 and a lower edge 14 which edges 12 and 14 are spaced apart from one another by the width of the blank 10 which width yields the height of the container which is also referred to in assembly as container C. The blank 10 has lateral edges 16 and 18 that can be joined to one another so as to fashion the desired cylindrical or frusto-conical configuration of the cup or container 10. It is one feature of my container C that an area such as 20 is available for graphics or indicia.

FIG. 2 represents the pre-cut card stock blank 10 with a moisture-repellant wax layer on one side having been pressed in a form or die, or shaped in any desired manner, that creates parallel folds or pleats 22 which folds or pleats may possibly be approximately one quarter of an inch in height. This card stock or material 10 is configured to constitute the sidewall of the cup C. The pleated sidewall gives my cup its distinctive aesthetic appeal and superior functionality. The size of the container C is determined by the dimensions of the punched, pre-cut card stock with a moisture repellant wax layer on one side, the number of folds 22 in the sidewall, and the size of the corresponding bottom component, shown in FIG. 3 and the mouthpiece, shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 2A illustrates in greater detail the outer ridges 10a and the inner ridges 10b, with outer walls 10c and 10d, as well as inner walls 10e and 10f. The walls may be disposed at an angle that can readily be determined by experimentation to impart the desired qualities to the finished cup C. With reference to FIG. 2B, the outer ridges may be reinforced as is indicated by 10g. FIG. 2C illustrates a wavy pattern having outer ridges 10.2 and inner ridges 10.3 that may be connected to one another by sloping or straight walls 10.1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the bottom component 30 of my cup. The bottom 30 may be made of pressed, recycled paper having a thickness of approximately one half of an inch thickness with a thin layer of moisture-repellant wax on the interior surface and a standard paper exterior surface which can receive printing thereon. The bottom component 30 may possibly be die-cut from pressed, recycled paper in a zigzag formation with a number of points 32 and valleys 34 corresponding to the number of pleats 22 in the sidewall component or blank 10, shown in FIG. 2, to which the bottom 30 is attached.

The top portion of FIG. 4 represents a possible embodiment of the mouthpiece of cup C. It is a ring structure 40 that may be manufactured from soft grade plastic or paper fiber that has distinct top portion 42 that may be in contact with the mouth of a user and bottom sides 44 and 46, see bottom portion of FIG. 4, that may be secured, say by crimping, at the upper edge 12 of the blank 10.

Thus, the bottom portion of FIG. 4 is a cut-out which shows that the bottom side of the mouthpiece 40, that is, the sides 44 and 46, is constructed so that it can receive and be pressed together and glued or otherwise adhered to the pleated sidewall of the cup or blank 10, as shown in FIG. 2, of the cup C. The dimensions of the mouthpiece may be sized to accept the standard tops that are widely available in the industry.

FIG. 5 represents a large sheet of paper card stock with a moisture repellant wax layer on one side from which the trapezoidal shaped sidewall or blank 10 (FIG. 2) of the cup is stamped, the attendant equipment being generally identified by reference numeral 50. Each stamped sidewall or blank 10 contains the amount of paper card stock, or material used, that is needed to create the pleats 22 which characterize the cylindrical body of the cup C. The exterior, un-waxed surface of the paper card stock will be able to accept ink for purposes of graphic representations.

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a pre-engineered die form 60 configured to press the pleats 22, or ridges and valleys, into the paper card stock 10 with the moisture repellant wax layer on one side. Thus, the die form 60 has a male portion 62 and a female portion 64, but other methods of creasing the card stock 10 are within the scope of the present application.

FIG. 7 shows the opposite edges 16 and 18 of the paper card stock 10 with the moisture repellant interior wax layer being glued together to form the cylindrical body of the cup C. The adhesive agent to secure the edges 16 and 18 to one another may be any of those used widely in the manufacture of like products. The adhesive agent will be applied along the full length of the adjoining edges 16 and 18 of the sidewall to create a watertight seal.

FIG. 8 illustrates the insertion of bottom 30 into the blank 10 that has been glued, to position the bottom 30 at the lower edge 14 of container C. Positioning may be accomplished by a pre-engineered metal drop 80 not shown in greater detail.

FIG. 9 illustrates the step 90 of gluing together of the bottom component 30 and the cylindrical body 10 of cup C.

Thus, reference numeral 91 represents a piston that may be employed to push the bottom component 30 into place within the cylindrical body and maintain pressure until the applied glue dries and the adjacent portions are securely bonded to one another.

Reference numeral 92 represents the area where the glue may possibly be applied.

Reference numeral 93 indicates hot air pressure being applied to reduce the drying time of the glue or adhesive material, thereby accelerating the manufacturing process.

FIG. 10 shows a staple 100 that may be employed to further strengthen the adhesive bonding between the bottom 30 and cylindrical body 10. Staples will possibly be placed strategically in two or more pleats 22 to ensure that the bottom 30 cannot fall out when in use. Staples will be placed in barely visible locations so they do not distract from the cup's appearance. Reference numeral 102 generally identifies the die or tool that may be employed to apply a staple 100.

FIG. 11 illustrates the mouthpiece 40 being glued to the cylindrical body 10 of cup C to form a new and improved disposable paper cup in accordance with my application that meets or exceeds quality standards for the industry.

Reference numeral 114 represents the cylindrical body 10 being inserted into the bottom side of the mouthpiece 40, where the two components are attached with an adhesive agent to one another.

Reference numeral 115 represents the pre-engineered metal holder of the mouthpiece 115 which may be equipped with a hot-air drying system to speed assembly.

Thus, the pleated card stock which constitutes the body of the cup C is wrapped around to form the cylindrical or desired shape, with the two side edges 16 and 18 of the card stock 10 overlapping and being joined together with the adhesive. The zigzag bottom component 30 may be die cut from a one-half inch pressed, recycled paper which gives strength and rigidity to the whole structure and bonds easily to the cylindrical body 10 of the cup C. Strategically placed staples can be used to reinforce the adhesive bond between the body of the cup and the bottom component 30, increasing the safety of the cup by ensuring the bottom 30 cannot fall out.

The cup can be manufactured in different sizes and configurations to suit different applications. The standard disposable beverage cup will have a smaller, zigzag shaped bottom component and a narrower overall diameter, while a larger zigzag shaped bottom component will be employed to produce soup or ice cream containers requiring a wider diameter. The circular mouthpiece component 40 may be made of soft grade plastic or paper fibers and will have an open bottom side designed to receive the upper edge of the cylindrical body of cup C for purposes of attachment and adhesion between the mouthpiece 40 and the body components.

This container will be easier to grip then similar products and will feature a greatly reduced rate of energy transfer (heat or cold) between the contents and the hand of a holder, thus maximizing both comfort and safety for the user.

The zigzag shaped, pleated sidewall component or blank 10 may be formed into a cylindrical body by bringing together the two sides of the pleated card stock that forms the sidewall and attaching them by means of adhesive glue.

The cup will have a circular rim attached by means of adhesive glue to the upper portion of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body. Such circular rim constitutes the mouthpiece. A flat one-quarter of an inch to one-half of an inch pressed paper, zigzag shaped closure attached by means of adhesive glue to the lower end of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body 10 constitutes the bottom component 30.

The upper rim or mouthpiece 40 being a separate generally round entity constructed of soft plastic or paper fiber may be pressed into place and glued to the top edge of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body, thereby becoming a constituent part of the whole cup or container C.

The pleats or folds being one-quarter of an inch each from peak to valley create a zigzag shaped cylindrical body of the desired dimension which size can be varied in width by increasing or reducing the number of pleats in the body and/or by adjusting the angle between the pleats.

The size of the bottom component 30 will be determined by the dimensions of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body to which said bottom component is intended to be attached in manufacture to constitute a container of predetermined overall dimension.

The size of the mouthpiece component 40 relative to the size of the bottom component 30 will determine the shape of the container insofar as differences in diameter between said top and bottom components will create and define a degree of taper in the overall shape of the container.

My claim is that we can use the same concept of card stock folded into a zigzag shaped, pleated container body to produce other containers than disposable paper cups. The number and dimensions of the pleats, the determined length of the body, and the dimension of the top and bottom components of the container will dictate the size and exact overall shape of the final container.

The zigzag shaped bottom component of the container will be precut from a large piece of pressed, recycled paper fibers. The top interior side will have a thin layer of moisture repellant wax and the bottom or exterior side will have a card stock layer that can accept ink for purposes of graphic reproduction.

The bottom component 30 will be secured to the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body component by means of a combination of adhesive glue and supplementary, strategically placed staples.

The upper edges of the zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body of the container will be pressed into the bottom side of the circular mouthpiece, which is designed to receive such upper edge of the pleated body 10 so that the two parts can be easily attached and bonded together with adhesive glue. The mouthpiece component of the container will be sized to accommodate the standard cut tops widely available on the market.

My present application also relates to a method for folding a moisture repellant wax coated card stock or commensurate material into a zigzag shaped, pleated body with ridges and valleys to create a disposable paper cup which can be manufactured simply and effectively.

The resulting cup with its pleated exterior surface is much easier to grip for the user and provides greatly improved insulation between the user's hand and the body of the cup. Such folded pleats also enhance the strength and rigidity of the whole structure of the cup. The cup is therefore functionally superior and much safer to use.

Thus, in one aspect, the present application relates to a pleated disposable cup or like containers or receptacles and/or attendant structures and methods of manufacture thereof.

Turning now to FIG. 12 of my application, this view indicates a further improvement of mine wherein the cup C is particularly configured with a lid 120 that comprises a pod arrangement, which, in turn, is configured to contain a material configured to prepare a drink for consumption by a user. This pod arrangement will be described in greater detail below. The cup C has pleats 22 or ridges as described and may comprise areas 20 for application of graphic insignia. The lid 120 may comprise a hole 123 for insertion there-through of a straw, not shown, that is usually used for drinking from a covered cup. In another embodiment, hole or aperture 123 may possibly be configured to permit drinking from the cup C.

As will best be understood from a perusal of FIG. 13, the lid 120 comprises a top wall 122, which is generally circular in horizontal extent and the top wall 122 has a central downwardly directed male ridge 126 which in the shown embodiment is generally concentrically disposed with respect to the diameter at the mouth of the cup C. The male ridge 126 generally exemplifies a connecting portion 130 that forms part of a lid 120. The lid 120 further has a conical, or frusto-conical, side wall 124 that includes a circumferential connecting portion 125 which is configured to secure the lid 120 to a cup C as is known in the art, i.e., by a press-and-fit connection of corresponding portions of a cup C and a lid 120.

Thus the described lid 120 is particularly configured, for one, to close a cup C, and, secondly, to mount at the interior of the lid 120, a pod arrangement, such as pod arrangement 140 that is described next.

Thus, pod arrangement 140 comprises a cup-shaped plastic casing 142 with a circumferential side wall 144 and a top rolled edge 146 and a bottom 148 that comprises indented valley portions 150 as well as a pre-cut hole 152. The valleys serving to facilitate removal of liquid, such as brewed liquid, from the casing 142 through hole 152. The pre-cut hole 152 may possibly be closed by a circular peel tab 154. In at least one embodiment of my application, the plastic casing 142 may be a molded structure. The top rolled edge 146 of plastic casing 142 is configured to be attached to the connecting portion 130 of lid 120.

Material configured to prepare a drink is initially stored in a paper filter 156 that conforms in shape to fit into the inside of the casing 142. The paper filter 156 may possibly comprise a formation 158 that is possibly configured to give strength and shape to the paper filter 156 which is simply placed into the casing 142. It will be appreciated that the paper filter 156 is configured to leave some space 160 within the casing 142 to facilitate flow of liquid from the paper filter 156 into the casing 142 and then into a cup C.

As a matter of protection of the material that is used to prepare a drink, the paper filter 156 may be closed by a plastic barrier or cover 162 that would hold the material to prepare a drink, this material being generally identified by reference numeral 164.

As is shown in FIG. 15, the paper filter 156 containing material 164 configured to prepare a drink, is introduced into the plastic casing 142 that is closed at the bottom 148 by circular peel tab 154. The assembly comprised of the plastic casing 142 and paper filter 156 containing the material 164 configured to prepare a drink is then attached to the lid 120, particularly by the top rolled edge 146 of casing 142 engaging with the connecting portion 130 of the lid 120 to provide a complete lid assembly that may be placed atop of a cup C or a mug 180 with handle 182, as will be described next.

Thus, in FIG. 18 is depicted a mug 180 that receives on the upper rim thereof an adapter or converter 170. This adapter 170 comprises a stepped cylindrical wall 172 (FIG. 19) with a circumferential ridge 174. The top wall 176 of the adapter 170 has a hole 178 that is configured to permit passage there-through of the casing 142 that is attached to or forms part of the lid 120.

Preparation of a hot serving of a drink is rather simple and may possibly comprise filling of a hot water container such as 190 with hot water in accordance with the filling scale 192, indicating either a small, medium, or large portion of hot water. The container 190 possibly has a seating portion 194 that is configured to surround the lid exterior of lid 120, i.e., the wall 128 thereof, and an interior piercing portion 196 configured to permit draining of container 190.

The embodiments of my arrangement to prepare a personalized cup of freshly brewed coffee or similar drink just now described above are based on the need to alleviate waste of energy since, for example, it has been reported that while the electricity consumption of household appliances is well documented for conventional operating cycles, there are still many gaps in our knowledge regarding consumption in stand-by status. Thus, in Switzerland the agency â€œSchweizerische Agentur fÃ¼r Energieefficienz (SAFE), reported as follows:â€ the aim of one project was to obtain new findings by carrying out market surveys, measurements and evaluations. The total standby losses for household appliances in Switzerland amount to approximately 400 GWh, and the associated electricity costs are around 80 million Swiss francs. The greatest proportionâ€”approximately 80 percentâ€”is attributable to heating requirements for coffee machines. In some appliance categories the proportion of standby losses to overall electricity consumption is extremely high. The figure for coffee machines in offices is 84 percent, for coffee machines in private households it is 60 percent, and for induction cooker tops it is 48 percent. The main technical requirements for enhancing the energy efficiency of coffee machines are an automatic switch-off function and improved insulation of boilers. According to the latest manufacturers' specifications of induction cooker tops, it is apparently possible to significantly reduce the surprisingly high losses associated with control devices. Generally speaking, power supply units still possess efficiency potential. It is now possible to reduce consumption levels from the previously standard level of around 4 W to below 0.5 W. Since it appears that significant efficiency potentials can be utilized with the aid of relatively simple measures, it is recommended that steps should be taken to enhance efficiency levels. Here it is essential to formulate detailed guidelines and define testing standards for declaring standby losses. The proposal put forward here for an energy declaration for coffee machines is intended to help test centers, EU authorities and manufacturers to carry out uniform measurements and evaluations. Given the high power consumption of coffee machines, their significant efficiency potentials and the availability of relatively simple measuring procedures, we recommend that the relevant EU commission should consider paving the way for the introduction of an energy label for coffee machines.â€

Similar finding have been reported in the Federal Republic of Germany. Thus, the German news magazine DER SPIEGEL has reported in its first issue of 2005 that the wasted energy of standby-electricity consumption in Germany in 2004, in kilowatt-hours, is as follows:â€”water heaters 2330; hi-fi equipment 2108; computers and accessories 2046; TV 1580; kitchen equipment 1133, telephone, fax, answering machines 991. The sum of 1088 being approximately equivalent to the electricity produced in 2003 by the atomic energy power plant at KrÃ¼mmel in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Thus is it also an object of the present application for patent to alleviate waste of electric energy.

Thus possibly pertinent art to the just described arrangement to prepare a personalized drink, includes the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,450â€”this disclosing a lid with filters 2 and 6 between which is stored the coffee. Water is poured through filter 2 and passes through coffee and filter 6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,205â€”shows a cap having a well portion for holding coffee or tea with water being poured into the well portion for preparation of a drink. Drinking according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,205 is from an aperture 37. U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,114 shows a structure that is different from, but is used in analogous manner to U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,450. U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,813 shows a lid in which are stored sugar and cream for consumption with a drink.

The following U.S. Patents, the references contained therein and the references in which they, in turn, are cited, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein: U.S. Pat. No. 697,496 issued to Klotz on Apr. 15, 1902; U.S. Pat. No. 1,189,822 issued to House on Jul. 4, 1916; U.S. Pat. No. 1,889,111 issued to Serr on Nov. 29, 1932; U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,549 issued to Egger on Nov. 11, 1952;U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,664 issued to Dale on May 1, 1956; U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,683 issued to Goodwin on Sep. 26, 1961; U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,704 issued to Liebelt on Mar. 5, 1957; U.S. Pat. No. 2,905,075 issued to Liebelt on Sep. 22, 1959; U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,560 issued to Goros on Jan. 17, 1961; U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,377 issued to Muller on Nov. 7, 1961; U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,359 issued to Brant on Nov. 13, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,101 issued to Noury on Mar. 26, 1963; U.S. Pat. No. 3,094,917 issued to Rombouts on Jun. 25, 1963; No. Re. 25,618 issued to Goodman on Jul. 14, 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,468 issued to Baron on Jul. 13, 1965; U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,527 issued to Bender on Aug. 1, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,524 issued to Kasakoff on Feb. 27, 1968; U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,922 issued to Palmer on Oct. 29, 1968; U.S. Pat. No. 3,410,697 issued to Stephenson on Nov. 12, 1968; U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,253 issued to Davis on Apr. 8, 1969; U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,714 issued to Edwards on May 13, 1969; U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,715 issued to Edwards on May 13, 1969; U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,624 issued to Luedtke on May 27, 1969; U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,310 issued to Goetz on Mar. 31, 1970; U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,664 issued to Palmer on Feb. 9, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,272 issued to Bouladon on Jun. 29, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,607, issued to Fassano on Sep. 21, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,708 issued to Abile-Gal on Oct. 26, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,695,168 issued to Van Brunt on Oct. 3, 1972; U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,523 issued to Shikaya on Sep. 30, 1975; U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,380 issued to Belivakici et al. on Jan. 6, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,318 issued to Mihailide on Jan. 27, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,069 issued to Cavalluzzi on Oct. 12, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,582 issued to O'Connell on Jun. 7, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,793 issued to Dipstick on Dec. 6, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,848 issued to Hahn on Ma, 2, 1978; on U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,234 issued to Olney et al. on Jun. 13, 1978; U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,177 issued to Olney et al. on Jul. 4, 1978; U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,329 issued to McKnight on Jun. 19, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,588 issued to Baron on Dec. 4, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,335 issued to Herbst on May 19, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,226 issued to Herbst on Aug. 18, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,492 issued to Zimmermann on Dec. 22, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,504 issued to Yamamoto on Nov. 29, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,158 issued to English et al. on May 1, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,697 issued to Brice et al. on Aug. 14, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,114 issued to Adenoid on Dec. 11, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,873 issued to Schulz on Nov. 17, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,348 issued to Clements on Oct. 22, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,080 issued to Grossman on Mar. 18, 1986; U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,334 issued to Shackling on Dec. 9, 1986; U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,400 issued to Roundel et al. on Jun. 23, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,502 issued to English et al. on Oct. 6, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,503 issued to Okabe et al. on Oct. 6, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,873 issued to Schulz on Nov. 17, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,835 issued to Welker et al. on Jan. 26, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,089 issued to Scott on Jan. 24, 1989.

Furthermore: No. 4,860,645 issued to van der Limn et al. on Aug. 29, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,408 issued to McGee on Oct. 24, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,712 issued to Talmudist on May 1, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,257 issued to Michelson on Jun. 19, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,410 issued to Dines on Jan. 8, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,254 issued to Today et al. on Feb. 5, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,310 issued to van deer Limn et al. on Feb. 26, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,978 issued to Van der Gang on Feb. 26, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,755 issued to Abdenour on Aug. 6, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,980 issued to Grossman et al. on Nov. 12, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,676 issued to Love et al. on Jan. 21, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,366 issued to Durgin et al. on Feb. 4, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,768 issued to So on Apr. 28, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,168 issued to Welker on Dec. 1, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,374 issued to Fond on Mar. 30, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473 issued to Coffin, Sr. on Apr. 27, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,858 issued to Tanner et al. on May 25, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,164 issued to Erickson et al. on Sep. 7, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,823 issued to Allen on May 10, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,339 issued to Howard on May 16, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,083 issued to Lozito on Jun. 13, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,124 issued to Mueller on Aug. 20, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,6005,710 issued to Pridonoff et al. on Feb. 25, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,724 issued to Adler on Apr. 15, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,026 issued to Gruenbacher on May 27, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,335 issued to Fond et al. on Jun. 10, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,238 issued to Andersen et al. on Jan. 6, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,716 issued to Cai et al. on Jun. 16, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,311 issued to Morita et al. on Jun. 23, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,205 issued to Melton on Jul. 7, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,527 issued to Blanc on Jul. 7, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,381 issued to Clements on Dec. 15, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,966 issued to Hursh on Dec. 29, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,441 issued to Hartman et al. on Mar. 9, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,964 issued to Melton on Jun. 22, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,737 issued to Karell on Aug. 17, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,143 issued to Hartman et al. on Aug. 24, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,963 issued to Patterson et al. on Mar. 21, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,352 issued to Cai on Apr. 25, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,033 issued to Melton on Aug. 1, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,363 issued to Rule, Jr. on Nov. 28, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,741 issued to Miranda on Feb. 20, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,201 issued to Cooper et al. on May 8, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,736 issued to Melton on Aug. 7, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,866 issued to Melton on Nov. 13, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,726 issued to Melton on Apr. 23, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,726 issued to Melton on Apr. 23, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,766 issued to Sadlier on Apr. 30, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,147 issued to Arentsen et al. on Feb. 18, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,196 issued to Aho et al. on Mar. 11, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,154 issued to Chauhan et al. on Apr. 29, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,786 issued to Guo on Jul. 29, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,728 issued to Newkirk et al. on Aug. 5, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,614 issued to Smith on Sep. 23, 2003; and No. 6,726,946 issued to Smith on Apr. 27, 2004.

The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may be used in the embodiments of the present application, as well as equivalents thereof. The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the application, are schematically accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification. All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein. All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, and recited in the Declaration attached hereto, and the references recited in such incorporated references are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents cited herein, and the references they are in turn cited in, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited anywhere in the present application. All of the references included herein as aforesaid include the corresponding equivalents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and elsewhere. The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at Applicant's option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art. The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at Applicant's option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this application have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this application. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this application as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

Thus, there are now provided disposable paper cups, method of making, and handling of such cups. The cup may comprise a pleated disposable paper cup with a zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body, an open top and closed bottom. The cup may be constructed of a paper card stock evenly folded to create parallel pleats that serve to decrease the energy transfer between hot or cold beverages contained in the cup and a user's hand, enabling the user to hold onto the container for an extended period of time without pain or discomfort. The application further relates to an arrangement configured to prepare a personalized brew of coffee or the like, with a lid that can be punctured to flow hot liquid over a material configured to make a drink and into a disposable cup.

Thus, In accordance with one aspect of the present application, my application relates to a disposable container for holding hot liquids, cold liquids, food items, and the like, said container comprising: a moisture repellant card stock, or the like material, structure having a length dimension and a width dimension greater than said width dimension in the unassembled condition of said container and being configured to form a cylindrical shaped body with a top and a bottom remote from said top by said width dimension; said card stock structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; said card stock structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or to cold to a hand of a user; a bottom structure being configured to be disposed to close said bottom of said container; and an arrangement being configured to be disposed to form a mouth portion at said top of said container.

Also, in accordance with one aspect of this application, my application relates to a method of making a container comprising a moisture repellant card stock, or the like material, structure having a length dimension and a width dimension greater than said width dimension in the unassembled condition of said container and being configured to form a cylindrical shaped body with a top and a bottom remote from said top by said width dimension; said card stock structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; said card stock structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or to cold to a hand of a user; a bottom structure being configured to be disposed to close said bottom of said container; and an arrangement being configured to be disposed to form a mouth portion at said top of said container, said method comprising the steps of: cutting a blank to predetermined dimensions; placing said cut blank across the cavity of a die set lowering the top part of the die set on top of the blank so that the weight of the top part of the die set pushes the card stock into the shape of the cavity to form a predetermined piece of pleated cardstock configured to provide the sidewall component of said container, said pleated card stock thus having ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the finished condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; and a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the finished condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or cold to a hand of a user.

In accordance with yet another aspect of my application, the application relates to a blank configured to provide a container side wall for a disposable container for holding hot liquids, cold liquids, food items, and the like, said blank comprising: a structure having a length dimension and a width dimension greater than said width dimension in the unassembled condition of said container and being configured to form a body with a top and a bottom remote from said top by said width dimension; said structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being interior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container and said interior ridges and valleys being configured to be in direct contact with a content of said container; and said structure comprising a plurality of ridges and valleys being exterior ridges and valleys in the assembled condition of said container, said exterior valleys being configured to permit flow of air to cool the exterior of said container and said exterior ridges being configured to minimize exposure to heat or to cold to a hand of a user.

Also, in accordance with one aspect of this application, my application relates to a lid for a disposable container, said lid comprising: a lid top portion comprising a wall structure being configured to close ingress into a disposable container; a lid rim portion being configured to be attached to a container mouth rim portion, said lid rim portion being contiguous to said lid top portion; said wall structure comprising a securing structure being configured to be disposed towards the interior of a container when said lid is attached to a container; a casing structure; said casing structure comprising a structure being configured to be attached to said securing structure of said wall structure of said lid top portion and thus to secure said casing structure to said lid within the interior of a container to which said lid is attached; said casing structure comprising a passage remote from said lid top portion and being configured to drain liquid from said casing into a disposable container when said lid is attached to a disposable container; and a paper filter container comprising a filter paper structure being configured to hold a predetermined portion of a material being configured to form a drink and also being configured to permit egress of an infusion there-from; said paper filter container being configured to be placed in said casing structure; said wall structure of said lid comprising a portion being configured to be perforated to permit passing of a liquid from a liquid receptacle through a corresponding perforation into said casing, and to permit passing of a liquid through said paper filter structure and to permit passing of a liquid about a material configured to form a drink, thereby configuring an infusion of the material configured to form a drink, and thus to form a drink; and said casing structure passage being of a size sufficient to permit passage of an infusion containing dissolved material being configured to form a drink into a container for drinking.

In accordance with another aspect of my application, my application relates to a method of use of a container with a lid as variously described, said method comprising: attaching a lid to a container; perforating said lid with a hollow needle structure being configured to introduce liquid into said disposable container; and introducing liquid into said disposable container through said paper filter container and said casing structure.

In accordance with yet another aspect of my application, my application also relates to a lid for a container, said lid comprising: a wall structure being configured to close ingress into a container; a container structure being configured to be attached to said wall structure of said lid within the interior of a container to which said lid is attached; said container structure comprising a passage remote from said wall structure and being configured to drain liquid from said container structure; and a filter container being configured to hold a predetermined portion of a material being configured to form a drink; said filter container being configured to be disposed within said container structure when said container structure is disposed within a container; said wall structure of said lid comprising a portion being configured to be perforated to permit passing of a liquid from a liquid receptacle through a corresponding perforation into said container structure, and to permit passing of a liquid through said filter container and to permit passing of a liquid about a material configured to form a drink, thereby configuring an infusion of the material configured to form a drink, and thus to form a drink; and said container structure passage being of a size sufficient to permit passage of an infusion containing dissolved material being configured to form a drink into a container for drinking.

The application as described hereinabove in the context of the preferred embodiments is not to be taken as limited to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the application.