Disposable cup with integrated stirrer

Abstract

A disposable cup with a stirring device releasably attached to the bottom of the cup. The incorporated stirrer can be pulled from the bottom of the cup, straightened and used to mix sugar, or other ingredient, into hot tea, or other drink. This improved disposable cup eliminates the need for anyone to search for a spoon to mix their drink. It also allows one less item, spoons, to be packed for outings. The stirrer is attached to the present cup in such a way that packing, or stacking, of multiple cups together is not adversely affected.

1 . A device that is adapted for holding a liquid, wherein the device includes an apparatus that can be used to stir the liquid, the device comprising: 
 a disposable cup having an cylindrical shape, an open top, a solid bottom, an interior and a height, wherein the interior of the cup is adapted for containing the liquid; and    a flexible stirrer that is able to flex between a curled orientation and a straightened orientation, wherein the flexible stirrer is releasably attached to the bottom of the disposable cup.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible stirrer is in the curled orientation while attached to the bottom of the cup.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible stirrer can be moved to the straightened orientation after being detached from the bottom of the cup.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stirrer has a length that is equal to or greater than the height of the cup.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second beverage holding device wherein the second device can be stored within the interior of the device and the attached flexible stirrers do not affect the stacking ability of the devices.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the disposable cup further comprises a lower lip that extends around a circumference of the bottom of the cup, and wherein the lower lip extends a defined distance from the bottom of the cup.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein a diameter of the flexible stirrer is equal to, or less than, the defined distance.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible stirrer further comprises a first end with a generally round shape and a second end that has a flattened, spoon-like shape.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least of portion of a surface of the flexible stirrer is corrugated so that flexing of the stirrer is aided.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cup and the stirrer are made of plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cup is made of paper.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stirrer is attached to the bottom of the cup by friction.