Disposable paper cups, method of making, and handling of such cups

Abstract

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. 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: 
 said 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.    
   
   
       17 . A lid for a disposable container in accordance with  claim 1 , 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.    
   
   
       18 . A method of use of a container with a lid in accordance with  claim 17 , 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.    
   
   
       19 . 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.    
   
   
       20 . The lid according to  claim 19 , comprising at least one of: (a), (b), and (c), wherein (a), (b), and (c) comprise: 
 (a) said container structure comprises ridges and valleys to permit draining of liquid from said container structure;    (b) said container structure comprises a plastic material; and    (c) said container structure comprises a cover configured to be attached to said container structure and to maintain material configured to form a drink in a protected space and also configured to be removed for use of material configured to form a drink to prepare a personalized drink.