Pleated disposable paper cup

Abstract

There is now provided a pleated disposable paper cup with a zigzag shaped, pleated cylindrical body, an open top and closed bottom. The cup is 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 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 abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72( b ). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72( b ): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, the abstract is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 . 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.    
   
   
       2 . The disposable container according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said stock structure comprises a card stock with at least one moisture repellant wax-coated side.    
   
   
       3 . The disposable container according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said ridges and valleys comprise at least one of isosceles ridges and valleys and rounded ridges and valleys.    
   
   
       4 . The disposable container according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said ridges and valleys have a height dimension of approximately one quarter of an inch.    
   
   
       5 . The disposable container according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said card stock is configured to withstand a temperature of approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit.    
   
   
       6 . 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.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 aid stock structure comprises a card stock with at least one moisture repellant wax-coated side.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said ridges and valleys comprise at least one of isosceles ridges and valleys and rounded ridges and valleys.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said ridges and valleys have a height dimension of approximately one quarter of an inch.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said card stock is configured to withstand a temperature of approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit.    
   
   
       11 . 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.    
   
   
       12 . The blank according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said structure comprises a paperboard stock material.    
   
   
       13 . The blank according to  claim 12 , wherein said stock material is coated on at least one side with at least one of: a moisture repellant wax-coating and polyethylene.  
   
   
       14 . The blank according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said ridges and valleys comprise at least one of isosceles ridges and valleys and rounded ridges and valleys.    
   
   
       15 . The blank according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said ridges and valleys have a height dimension of approximately one quarter of an inch.    
   
   
       16 . The blank according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said card stock is configured to withstand a temperature of approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit.