Insulating storage container

Abstract

The subject application is directed to an insulating product storage container. The container is a double-walled cup, including an inner cup member and an outer cup member, with the inner cup member sized to fit within the outer cup member. A heat-insulating space is formed by the interior surface of the outer cup member and the exterior surface of the inner cup member. The inner and outer cup members further each include a circumferential lip protruding outwardly with respect to the interior of the double-walled cup. The lips of the inner and outer cup members are welded together so as to form a sealed insulating space thereby.

1 . An insulating product storage container comprising:
 a double-walled cup including:
 a first cup member, 
 a second cup member adapted for nesting inside the first cup member, 
 an insulating space, and 
 a top opening; 
   wherein the insulating space is formed by at least a part of an interior surface of the first cup member and at least a part of an exterior surface of second the cup member.   
   
   
       2 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 :
 wherein each of the first cup member and the second cup member further comprises a corresponding circumferential lip protruding outwardly with respect to the interior of the double-walled cup and positioned generally adjacent to the top opening of the double-walled cup; and   wherein at least a part of the lip of the first cup member is adhesively engaged with at least a part of the lip of the second cup member, thereby forming a sealed insulating space.   
   
   
       3 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 2 , wherein the sealed insulating space is formed by welding of at least a part of the lip of the first cup member and at least a part of the lip of the second cup member. 
   
   
       4 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 3 :
 wherein at least a part of the underside portion of the lip of the second cup member rests on at least a part of the upper side portion of the lip of the first cup member; and   wherein the sealed insulating space is formed by welding of the resting underside and corresponding upper side portions of the corresponding lips of the first and second cup members.   
   
   
       5 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the material of at least one of the first cup member and the second cup member is characterized by a low thermal conductivity. 
   
   
       6 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the material of at least one of the first cup member and the second cup member is a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       7 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating space between the at least part of the exterior surface of the second cup member and the at least part of the interior surface of the first cup member is filled with an insulating material. 
   
   
       8 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the first cup member comprises a center portion that is raised with respect to a periphery portion of a bottom portion of the first cup member. 
   
   
       9 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 8 , wherein the raised center portion has a truncated conical shape. 
   
   
       10 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the double-walled cup has an inverse truncated conical shape. 
   
   
       11 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the double-walled cup is implemented as at least one of the group consisting of disposable and recyclable. 
   
   
       12 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a food product. 
   
   
       13 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of a hot food product, a cold food product, and a frozen food product. 
   
   
       14 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the double-walled cup is adapted for stacking for shipping and packaging in an empty state. 
   
   
       15 . The insulating product storage container of  claim 14 , wherein the first cup member further comprises a circumferential shoulder protruding outwardly with respect to the interior of the double-walled cup that is positioned generally adjacent to the lip of the first cup member.