Utility Device For A Container Of Liquid Matter

Abstract

The invention concerns containers of liquids such as for example a beverage, and in particular but not exclusively, disposable cups, and more specifically a utensil provided in such cups. Such a device ( 1 ) can be used both for stirring, as a drinking straw, for protection from heat by rigidifying de body of the cup ( 3 ), and as a support for an advertising message. Said elements ( 12, 30 ) can easily be individually detached from one another to mix or to drink a beverage, and optionally for preserving a printed information on the heat protecting sheet ( 2 ) for preventing fingers from getting burnt.

1 . Practical device for a liquid container with an essentially cylindrical shape, said device comprising means capable of taking on an essentially oblong configuration and means capable of taking on an essentially flat configuration, attached to said container in such a way as to allow means to maintain an essentially oblong configuration and the means capable of taking on an essentially flat configuration, respectively, in a configuration that essentially follows the circumference of the said container, in order to allow for stacking of the device and container in units, as well as the joint or selective disassembling of said means. 
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the means capable of taking on an essentially oblong configuration have a profile made of plastic, especially a profile having a closed section or a C shape. 
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the means capable of taking on an essentially flat configuration are made of a foil, especially plastic material. 
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which the means capable of taking on an essentially oblong configuration comprise click-lock means or are connected with click-lock means. 
   
   
       5 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the means capable of taking on an essentially oblong configuration comprise at least a part that allows for deformation, especially a part with an accordion-like structure. 
   
   
       6 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the means capable of taking on an essentially flat configuration form or comprise an information medium. 
   
   
       7 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the means capable of taking on an essentially flat configuration has a shape which is complementary to the container. 
   
   
       8 . Device according to  claim 1  in which the means capable of taking on an essentially oblong configuration and/or means capable of taking on an essentially flat configuration are pre-tensioned in one of their configurations. 
   
   
       9 . Liquid container equipped with a device according to  claim 1  especially in a cup form. 
   
   
       10 . Container according to  claim 9 , made of a material identical to at least one part of the device, especially designed as one-piece with the said part. 
   
   
       11 . Device according to  claim 1 , in which fastening to the means capable of taking on an essentially oblong configuration and/or means capable of taking on an essentially flat configuration is done either directly and/or indirectly by welding, especially at the level of the upper rim of the container.