Paper-wrapped polystyrene foam beverage container

Abstract

A beverage container having a polystyrene foam cup body wrapped in a paper covering is disclosed. The paper-wrapped polystyrene foam beverage container may provide thermal insulation while simultaneously providing a means to display high quality printed matter to the user. A method of making the paper wrapped polystyrene foam cups includes providing a polystyrene foam cup body that has been allowed to shrink to its stable proportions and thereafter applying the paper wrap. A promotional item may be attached to the paper wrap.

1 . A beverage container, comprising: 
 a polystyrene foam cup body having a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, the side wall forming an open end opposite the bottom; and    a paper wrap disposed circumferentially around an exterior of the cup body.    
   
   
       2 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall has a length and the paper wrap extends the length of the side wall.  
   
   
       3 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the cup body comprises a lip disposed on the open end thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The beverage container of  claim 3 , wherein the paper wrap extends from an underside of the lip toward the bottom of the cup body.  
   
   
       5 . The beverage container of  claim 4 , wherein the paper wrap extends to the bottom of the cup body.  
   
   
       6 . The beverage container of  claim 5 , wherein the paper wrap has an external surface that is suitable for displaying printed material.  
   
   
       7 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the paper wrap has a smooth external surface.  
   
   
       8 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the paper wrap comprises a solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.  
   
   
       9 . The beverage container of  claim 8 , wherein the SBS paper is clay coated.  
   
   
       10 . The beverage container of  claim 9 , wherein the SBS paper has a thickness of between about eight and about fourteen mils.  
   
   
       11 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , further comprising a promotional item affixed to an exterior surface of the paper wrap.  
   
   
       12 . The beverage container of  claim 11 , wherein the promotional item is removable from the paper wrap.  
   
   
       13 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the paper wrap is affixed to the exterior of the cup body via an adhesive.  
   
   
       14 . The beverage container of  claim 13 , wherein edges of the paper wrap are at least one of adhesively overlapped and adhesively edge joined.  
   
   
       15 . The beverage container of  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive is applied to an inside face of the paper wrap.  
   
   
       16 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein edges of the paper wrap are crimped together.  
   
   
       17 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the polystyrene foam is expanded polystyrene.  
   
   
       18 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall has an inner surface that is perpendicular to the cup bottom.  
   
   
       19 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein cup body is substantially stabilized in size before the paper wrap is disposed around the exterior of the cup body.  
   
   
       20 . A beverage container, comprising: 
 an expanded polystyrene cup body having a bottom, a straight side wall extending from the bottom, the side wall forming an open end, and a lip disposed on the open end; and    a paper wrap disposed around an exterior surface of the side wall, the paper wrap extending from an underside of the lip to the bottom of the cup body and having an external surface that is suitable for displaying printed material.    
   
   
       21 . The beverage container of  claim 20 , wherein the paper wrap comprises a clay-coated, solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.  
   
   
       22 . The beverage container of  claim 20 , further comprising a promotional item affixed to an exterior surface of the paper wrap.  
   
   
       23 . A method of manufacturing a beverage container, the method comprising: 
 providing a polystyrene foam cup body having a bottom and a side wall that extends from the bottom;    allowing the cup body to shrink to a substantially stable size; and    affixing a paper wrap around the cup body.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein allowing the cup body to shrink comprises allowing the cup body to shrink while exposed to at least one of an ambient environment and a controlled environment.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the controlled environment comprises at least one of a pressure controlled environment and temperature controlled environment.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein allowing the cup body to shrink comprises allowing the cup body to shrink for about five to nine days.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein affixing the paper wrap around the cup body comprises extending the paper wrap along a length of the side wall.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein affixing the paper wrap around the cup body comprises affixing the paper wrap around the cup body via an adhesive.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the adhesive is applied to the paper wrap such that edges of the paper wrap become at least one of adhesively overlapped and adhesively edge joined.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the adhesive is applied to an inside face of the paper wrap.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein affixing the paper wrap around the cup body comprises affixing the paper wrap by crimping edges of the paper wrap together.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the paper wrap comprises a solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein affixing a paper wrap around body portion comprises affixing a paper wrap having at least one detachable promotional item.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising affixing a detachable promotional item to the paper wrap.