Fordable cup

Abstract

The invention provides a foldable cup comprising a sheet of plastics material ( 1 ) having a container piece ( 2 ) integral with at least one handle piece ( 3 ), said container piece ( 2 ) having fold lines ( 7, 10 ) enabling it to be transformed from a flat condition into a folded container, and said handle piece ( 3 ) having fold lines enabling the piece to be formed into a handle extending from and held in position relative to the container. When transformed from a flat to a folded condition, the container is folded in such a way as to provide leak proof seals, enabling the cup to safely hold both liquids and solids.

1 . A foldable cup comprising a sheet of material having a container piece integral with at least one handle piece, said container piece having fold lines enabling it to be transformed from a flat condition into a folded container, and said handle piece having fold lines enabling the handle piece to be formed into a handle extending from and held in position relative to the container.  
   
   
       2 . A foldable cup according to  claim 1 , wherein the cup comprises one integral handle piece.  
   
   
       3 . A foldable cup according to  claim 1 , wherein the cup comprises two integral handle pieces.  
   
   
       4 . A foldable cup according to any preceding claim, wherein said handle piece fold lines define a central gripping section.  
   
   
       5 . A foldable cup according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the handle is formed by folding the handle piece about said fold lines thereon and then retaining the formed handle to the container by the folding interaction of the formed handle and container.  
   
   
       6 . A foldable cup according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the handle is formed by folding the handle piece about said fold lines thereon and then retaining the formed handle to the formed container by the use of integral fastening means.  
   
   
       7 . A foldable cup according to any preceding claim, wherein said folded container is formed by folding the container piece about fold lines thereon  
   
   
       8 . A foldable cup according to  claim 7  wherein said container piece fold lines define at least two corner pieces.  
   
   
       9 . A foldable cup according to  claim 8  wherein said at least two corner pieces are folded across one another and secured by an integral fastening means.  
   
   
       10 . A foldable cup according to  claim 9 , wherein the integral fastening means are mating connection elements.  
   
   
       11 . A foldable cup according to clam  10 , wherein the mating connection elements are press-stud fastenings.  
   
   
       12 . A foldable cup according to  claim 9 , wherein aid integral fastening means is said formed handle.  
   
   
       13 . A foldable cup according to clam  8  or  claim 9 , wherein said container piece fold lines define at least one face over which said at least two corner pieces can be folded and fastened.  
   
   
       14 . A foldable cup according to any of  claims 7  to  13 , wherein the container piece fold lines define a self-supporting base,  
   
   
       15 . A foldable cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the container piece comprises a sheet of material substantially dodecagonal in shape.  
   
   
       16 . A foldable cup according to  claim 15 , wherein said sheet of material is a waterproof material.  
   
   
       17 . A foldable cup according to  claim 16  wherein the waterproof material is a plastics material.  
   
   
       18 . A foldable cup according to  claim 17 , wherein the plastics material is polypropylene.  
   
   
       19 . A foldable cup according to any preceding claim, wherein the material is sufficiently flexible that it may be readily folded about fold lines scored into it.  
   
   
       20 . A foldable cup substantially as described herein with reference to any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.