Container holder

Abstract

An insulating holder for a hot or cold drink cup including a tubular sleeve member that is made of a cellulosic paper material and has top and bottom circular openings that enable the sleeve member to be fitted over the liquid container. The tubular sleeve member has its top and bottom openings sized so as to form a frusto-conic shape when fitted on the cup. The tubular sleeve member is provided with a plurality of folds that each extend in a direction between the top and bottom circular openings and that each extend substantially in parallel with an adjacently spaced fold. Each fold defines an air channel that is formed on an inner surface of the tubular sleeve member and that extends along each fold for providing insulation by virtue of the air passage between the holder and cup. The folds extend in a direction that includes a transverse component so as to inhibit compression by the user at the fold. The holder also includes microscopic air chambers which are used to absorb and retain moisture.

1 . An insulating holder that is adapted for fitting over a liquid container, said insulating holder comprising:
 a tubular sleeve member that is constructed of a cellulosic material and having top and bottom circular openings that enable the sleeve member to be fitted over the liquid container;   a plurality of folds in the tubular sleeve member that each extend substantially in parallel with an adjacently spaced fold;   each said fold defining an air channel that is formed on an inner surface of the tubular sleeve member and that extends along each fold;   each said fold extending in a direction between said top and bottom circular openings;   at least some of said folds extending in a direction that is diagonal to a vertical axis on the outer surface of the tubular sleeve member.   
   
   
       2 . The insulating holder of  claim 1  wherein each channel is substantially triangular in cross-section. 
   
   
       3 . The insulating holder of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve member is constructed of a paper product. 
   
   
       4 . The insulating holder of  claim 3  wherein the tubular sleeve member has imbedded microscopic air molecules to enhance the insulation property of the tubular sleeve member. 
   
   
       5 . The insulating holder of  claim 1  wherein the tubular sleeve member is of frustro-conic shape and includes one or more apertures connected with the air channel. 
   
   
       6 . The insulating holder of  claim 1  wherein the diagonal is at an angle to the vertical that is greater than forty five degrees. 
   
   
       7 . The insulating holder of  claim 6  wherein the angle is between forty five and 90 degrees to the vertical. 
   
   
       8 . An insulating holder that is adapted for fitting over a hot or cold drink cup, said insulating holder comprising:
 a tubular sleeve member that is constructed of a cellulosic material and having top and bottom circular openings that enable the sleeve member to be fitted over the liquid container;   said tubular sleeve member having a frusto-conic configuration when fitted on the cup;   a plurality of folds in the tubular sleeve member that each extend in a direction between said top and bottom circular openings and that each extend substantially in parallel with an adjacently spaced fold;   each said fold defining an air channel that is formed on an inner surface of the tubular sleeve member and that extends along each fold;   said folds extending in a direction that is non-parallel to a vertical axis on the outer surface of the tubular sleeve member.   
   
   
       9 . The insulating holder of  claim 8  wherein each air channel is substantially triangular in cross-section. 
   
   
       10 . The insulating holder of  claim 8  wherein the tubular sleeve member is constructed of a paper product and further includes holes that interconnect with the air channel. 
   
   
       11 . The insulating holder of  claim 10  wherein the tubular sleeve member has imbedded microscopic air molecules to store accumulating moisture in the tubular sleeve member. 
   
   
       12 . The insulating holder of  claim 8  wherein the tubular sleeve member has its top circular opening of larger diameter than its bottom circular opening. 
   
   
       13 . The insulating holder of  claim 8  wherein each fold is at an angle to the vertical that is greater than forty five degrees. 
   
   
       14 . The insulating holder of  claim 13  wherein the angle is between forty five and 90 degrees to the vertical. 
   
   
       15 . An insulating holder that is adapted for fitting over a hot or cold drink cup, said insulating holder constructed of a tubular sleeve member that is made of a cellulosic paper material and having top and bottom circular openings that enable the sleeve member to be fitted over the liquid container, the tubular sleeve member having its top and bottom openings sized so as to form a frusto-conic shape when fitted on the cup, the tubular sleeve member provided with a plurality of folds that each extend in a direction between said top and bottom circular openings and that each extend substantially in parallel with an adjacently spaced fold, each said fold defining an air channel that is formed on an inner surface of the tubular sleeve member and that extends along each fold for providing insulation by virtue of the air passage between the holder and cup, the folds extending in a direction that includes a transverse component so as to inhibit compression by the user at the fold. 
   
   
       16 . The insulating holder of  claim 15  wherein each air channel is substantially triangular in cross-section. 
   
   
       17 . The insulating holder of  claim 15  wherein the tubular sleeve member has imbedded microscopic air molecules to store moisture in the tubular sleeve member. 
   
   
       18 . The insulating holder of  claim 15  wherein the tubular sleeve member has at least one hole therethrough that communicates with the air channel. 
   
   
       19 . The insulating holder of  claim 15  wherein each fold is at an angle to the vertical that is greater than forty five degrees. 
   
   
       20 . The insulating holder of  claim 19  wherein the angle is between forty five and 90 degrees to the vertical. 
   
   
       21 . An insulating holder that is adapted for fitting over a hot or cold drink cup, said insulating holder constructed of a tubular sleeve member that is made of a cellulosic paper material and having top and bottom circular openings that enable the sleeve member to be fitted over the liquid container, the tubular sleeve member having its top and bottom openings sized so as to form a frusto-conic shape when fitted on the cup, said paper material characterized by a mixture of a plurality of microscopic moisture storage or air chambers surrounded by paperboard fibers to provide a liquid absorbency by the holder. 
   
   
       22 . The insulating holder of  claim 21  with the tubular sleeve member provided with a plurality of folds that each extend in a direction between said top and bottom circular openings and that each extend substantially in parallel with an adjacently spaced fold, each said fold defining an air channel that is formed on an inner surface of the tubular sleeve member and that extends along each fold for providing insulation by virtue of the air passage between the holder and cup, the folds extending in a direction that includes a transverse component so as to inhibit compression by the user at the fold. 
   
   
       23 . The insulating holder of  claim 21  wherein the mixture has the fibers containing not more than 90% of the total volume and not less than 10% of the total volume. 
   
   
       24 . The insulating holder of  claim 21  wherein the mixture has the air chambers containing not more than 90% of the total volume and not less than 10% of the total volume. 
   
   
       25 . The insulating holder of  claim 21  wherein the moisture storage chambers hold and retain moisture or water, equaling as much as 150% of the weight of the paperboard material when it is dry, or 60% of the total weight of the paperboard material when fully saturated. 
   
   
       26 . The insulating holder of  claim 21  in combination with a cup to form a one-piece cup and holder.