Ribbed sleeve providing insulation

Abstract

A sleeve and a container are provided that include projections made of a polymer that insulate a hand gripping a container containing a hot beverage. The sleeve can include the projections and it can be manufactured as an integrated part of the container or it can be manufactured separate therefrom.

1 . A sleeve adapted for use with a beverage container comprising: 
 a surface including a plurality of projections arranged in at least one array, each projection from said at least one array extending through a plane substantially tangent to said surface, said sleeve defining a conic section, being made of a polymer and being capable of disposition around a beverage container.    
   
   
       2 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve is flexible and can be resiliently deformed by hand pressure so as to permit gripping of said beverage container disposed within the sleeve.  
   
   
       3 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 2  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene or polymethylpentene.  
   
   
       4 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 1  wherein each projection defines a rib and has a cross-section substantially in the shape of at least a portion of a conic section.  
   
   
       5 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 4  wherein said portion of a conic section is a semi circle.  
   
   
       6 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 4  wherein said conic section is selected from the group consisting of a circle, ellipse, hyperbola, and parabola.  
   
   
       7 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 4  wherein each said projection defining a rib extends coextensively with an axis thorough said conic section.  
   
   
       8 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 4  wherein each projection defining a rib is disposed on said sleeve coaxially with an axis through said conic section.  
   
   
       9 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 8  wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis.  
   
   
       10 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 8  wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially away from said axis.  
   
   
       11 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 8  wherein said projections of one array extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis and wherein said projections in another array extend from said surface in a direction away from said axis.  
   
   
       12 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis.  
   
   
       13 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein said projections extend from said surface in a direction substantially away from said axis.  
   
   
       14 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein said projections of one array extend from said surface in a direction substantially toward said axis and wherein said projections in another array extend from said sidewall in a direction away from said axis.  
   
   
       15 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein said projections are spaced apart from one another by about 0.40 of an inch.  
   
   
       16 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein said projections are spaced apart from one another by about 0.40 to about 0.60 of an inch.  
   
   
       17 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein a length of each said projection is defined dimensionally along said axis and wherein said projections are spaced apart from one another from about 0.8 times to about 1.5 times the length.  
   
   
       18 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein a length of each said projection is defined dimensionally along said axis and wherein said projections are of a uniform length.  
   
   
       19 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 7  wherein a length of each said projection is defined dimensionally along said axis and wherein said projections are of a non-uniform length.  
   
   
       20 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 4  wherein said cross-section is of a diameter ranging from about 0.20 of an inch to about 0.75 of an inch.  
   
   
       21 . A sleeve as recited in  claim 18  wherein said projections are spaced apart by about 0.20 of an inch to about 0.75 of an inch.  
   
   
       22 . A container including an end and a sidewall terminating at said end, said sidewall including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining an enclosure together with said end, said sidewall further including at least one array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections away from said sidewall disposed around an axis of said enclosure on a section of said container.  
   
   
       23 . A container as recited in  claim 18  wherein said at least one array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said outer surface.  
   
   
       24 . A container as recited in  claim 18  wherein said at least one array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said inner surface.  
   
   
       25 . A container as recited in  claim 18  wherein an array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said outer surface and an array comprising a plurality of cantilevered projections is located on said inner surface.  
   
   
       26 . A container as recited in  claim 18  wherein said at least one array is made of a polymer.  
   
   
       27 . A container as recited in  claim 22  wherein said polymer is polypropylene.  
   
   
       28 . A container as recited in  claim 18  which further includes a liner consisting of paper or plastic film which lines at least a section of said enclosure.