Beverage cup for placement in holder

Abstract

A car cup is disclosed. Such a car cup may include a base having a generally circular perimeter, and a sidewall that extends upwardly from the base and defines an open end of the cup. The sidewall may include a lower wall portion having a relatively small diameter, an upper wall portion having a relatively large diameter, and a transition portion extending between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion. At least a portion of the transition portion may have a shape that is suitable for having visible matter disposed thereon. Visible matter may be printed or etched onto any or all of the upper wall portion, the lower wall portion, and the transition portion. Methods and apparatus for making such cups are also disclosed.

1 . A car cup, comprising: 
 a base having a generally circular perimeter; and    a sidewall that extends upwardly from the base and defines an open end of the cup, wherein the sidewall includes a lower wall portion having a lower wall portion diameter, an upper wall portion having an upper wall portion diameter that is larger than the lower wall portion diameter, and a transition portion extending between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, and    wherein the transition portion has visible matter disposed on at least a portion thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein the lower wall portion has a lower wall portion pitch and the transition portion has a transition portion pitch that differs from the lower wall portion pitch.  
   
   
       3 . The car cup of  claim 2 , wherein the lower wall portion pitch is constant and the transition portion pitch is constant.  
   
   
       4 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall portion has an upper wall portion pitch that differs from the transition portion pitch.  
   
   
       5 . The car cup of  claim 4 , wherein the upper wall portion pitch is constant and the transition portion pitch is constant.  
   
   
       6 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein the visible matter is printed onto the transition portion.  
   
   
       7 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein the visible matter is embossed onto the transition portion.  
   
   
       8 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion has visible matter disposed on at least a portion thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein the transition portion has a generally frusto-conical shape.  
   
   
       10 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein the lower wall portion has a maximum diameter, the upper wall portion has a minimum diameter, and the minimum diameter of the upper wall portion is greater than the maximum diameter of the lower wall portion.  
   
   
       11 . The car cup of  claim 10 , wherein the transition portion has a maximum diameter that is approximately equal to the minimum diameter of the upper wall portion and a minimum diameter that is approximately equal to the maximum diameter of the lower wall portion.  
   
   
       12 . The car cup of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes a stacking ring portion.  
   
   
       13 . A car cup, comprising: 
 a base having a generally circular perimeter; and    a sidewall that extends upwardly from the base and defines an open end of the cup, wherein the sidewall includes a lower wall portion having a lower wall portion diameter, an upper wall portion having an upper wall portion diameter that is larger than the lower wall portion diameter, and a transition portion extending between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, and    wherein at least a portion of the transition portion has a shape that is suitable for having visible matter disposed thereon.    
   
   
       14 . The car cup of  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the transition portion that is suitable for having visible matter disposed thereon has a generally cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       15 . The car cup of  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the transition portion that is suitable for having visible matter disposed thereon has a generally frusto-conical shape.