Cup holder

Abstract

A handleless holder ( 1 ) for a separate, disposable cup ( 4 ) which holder ( 1 ) comprises a sleeve ( 2 ) which is shaped and/or dimensioned to receive and support the cup ( 4 ) so that the lip ( 5 ) of the cup ( 4 ) is spaced above the sleeve ( 2 ) to enable a hot liquid to be drunk from the cup ( 4 ) wherein the holder ( 1 ) is formed from a moulded plastics material and includes a band comprising a core of foamed plastics material providing thermal insulation to enable the user to hold the cup ( 4 ) at the band when it contains a hot liquid.

1 - 12  (Canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A handleless holder for a separate, disposable cup which holder comprises a sleeve which is shaped and/or dimensioned to receive and support the cup so that the lip of the cup is spaced above the sleeve to enable a hot liquid to be drunk from the cup, the cross-section of the sleeve being smaller than the upper section of the cup adjacent the lip, wherein the holder is formed from a moulded plastics material and includes a band comprising a core of foamed plastics material providing thermal insulation to enable the user to hold the cup at the band when it contains a hot liquid.  
     
     
         14 . A holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve has an inner conical dimension or shape to accommodate a conical cup; the cross section of the sleeve being smaller than an upper section of the cup adjacent the lip, so that the cup can slide into the sleeve and be retained by said upper portion.  
     
     
         15 . A holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface of the sleeve is profiled so as to provide gaps between the sleeve and the side of the cup, whereby thermal insulation is improved.  
     
     
         16 . A holder according to  claim 14 , wherein the inner surface of the sleeve is profiled so as to provide gaps between the sleeve and the side of the cup, whereby thermal insulation is improved.  
     
     
         17 . A holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the outer surface of the holder is profiled so as to improve the user's grip thereon.  
     
     
         18 . A holder according to  claim 14 , wherein the outer surface of the holder is profiled so as to improve the user's grip thereon.  
     
     
         19 . A holder according to  claim 15 , wherein the outer surface of the holder is profiled so as to improve the user's grip thereon.  
     
     
         20 . A holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the holder has an out-turned lip.  
     
     
         21 . A holder according to  claim 20 , wherein the lip is of enlarged section to improve the rigidity of the holder.  
     
     
         22 . A holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the holder has a lower skirt.  
     
     
         23 . A holder according to  claim 22 , wherein the skirt has a return edge.  
     
     
         24 . A process for the manufacture of a holder according to  claim 13 , which process comprises: 
 injecting a mixture of a molten mass of plastics material and a pneumatogen therefor into a mould generally defining the shape of the holder which holder includes a relatively thick band;    cooling the moulded mass until the relatively thick band has a molten core beneath a solidified surface; and    returning the moulded mass to ambient pressure thereby permitting the pneumatogen in the band core to foam the plastics material to the final shape and/or dimensions of the holder.    
     
     
         25 . A process for the manufacture of a cup holder, which process comprises: 
 injecting a mixture of a molten mass of plastics material and a pneumatogen therefor into a mould generally defining the shape of the holder which holder includes a relatively thick band;    cooling the moulded mass until the relatively thick band has a molten core beneath a solidified surface; and