Paper-wrapped polymer beverage container

Abstract

A beverage container having a polymer cup body wrapped in a paper covering is disclosed. The paper-wrapped polymer beverage container may provide thermal insulation while simultaneously providing a means to display high quality printed matter to the user. Such a container may include a polymer cup body having a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom. The cup body may have a plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to one another circumferentially around the side wall parallel to a plane defined by the bottom of the cup body. A paper wrap may be disposed circumferentially around an exterior of the cup body. A promotional item may be attached to the paper wrap.

1 . A beverage container, comprising: 
 a polymer cup body having a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, the bottom defining a plane, the side wall forming an open end opposite the bottom, the cup body having a plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to one another circumferentially around the side wall parallel to the plane defined by the bottom of the cup body; 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 6 , 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 polymer is polypropylene.  
   
   
       18 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the paper wrap abuts at least one of the ribs such that a thermally insulating gap is formed between the cup body and the paper wrap.  
   
   
       19 . The beverage container of  claim 18 , wherein the gap is an air gap.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the ribs has a respective rib width, and the rib widths are the same for each of the plurality of ribs.  
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are disposed along an entire length of the side wall that extends from the bottom of the cup body.  
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a paper base disposed on the bottom of the cup body.  
   
   
       23 . A beverage container, comprising: 
 a polymer cup body having a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, the bottom defining a plane, the side wall forming an open end opposite the bottom, and a lip disposed on the open end, the cup body having a plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to one another circumferentially around the side wall parallel to the plane defined by the bottom of the cup body; 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.    
   
   
       24 . The beverage container of  claim 23 , wherein the paper wrap comprises a clay-coated, solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.  
   
   
       25 . The beverage container of  claim 23 , further comprising a promotional item affixed to an exterior surface of the paper wrap.  
   
   
       26 . A method of manufacturing a beverage container, the method comprising: 
 providing a polymer cup body having a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, the bottom defining a plane, the side wall forming an open end opposite the bottom, the cup body having a plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to one another circumferentially around the side wall parallel to the plane defined by the bottom of the cup body; and    affixing a paper wrap around the cup body such that the paper wrap abuts at least one of the ribs such that a thermally insulating gap is formed between the cup body and the paper wrap.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , 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 26 , 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 26 , 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 26 , wherein the paper wrap comprises a solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein affixing a paper wrap around cup body comprises affixing a paper wrap having at least one detachable promotional item.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising affixing a detachable promotional item to the paper wrap.