Disposable beverage container

Abstract

A disposable beverage cup configured to be received by a cup holder having a cup engagement means associated with an opening of said cup holder, said beverage cup comprising: a base; at least one sidewall extending upwardly from said base to define a cup opening; and at least one projection disposed substantially horizontally on an outer surface of said sidewall a predetermined height above said base, said projection extending a predetermined distance outwardly from said sidewall; wherein said at least one projection is configured to engage with said cup holder cup engagement means to retain said cup in said cup holder such that said cup is twisted a predetermined angle about a longitudinal axis of said cup to release said cup projection from engagement with said cup holder engagement means.

1 . A disposable beverage cup configured to be received by a cup holder having a cup engagement means associated with an opening of said cup holder, said beverage cup comprising:
 a base;   at least one sidewall extending upwardly from said base to define a cup opening; and   at least one projection disposed substantially horizontally on an outer surface of said sidewall a predetermined height above said base, said projection extending a predetermined distance outwardly from said sidewall;   wherein said at least one projection is configured to engage with said cup holder cup engagement means to retain said cup in said cup holder such that said cup is twisted a predetermined angle about a longitudinal axis of said cup to release said cup projection from engagement with said cup holder engagement means.   
   
   
       2 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 1  wherein said cup projection is disposed on said outer surface of said sidewall not higher than half way between said base and said cup. 
   
   
       3 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 1  wherein said cup projection extending from said sidewall outer surface extends substantially circumferentially about part of all said sidewall. 
   
   
       4 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 3  including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart projections each circumferentially disposed about part or all of said sidewall. 
   
   
       5 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 1  wherein said predetermined twisting angle about said longitudinal axis of said cup is between 2° and 55°. 
   
   
       6 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 3  including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart projections forming a corrugated outer surface of said sidewall. 
   
   
       7 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 3  wherein said projection is helically disposed about said outer surface of said sidewall such that a single continuous projection is disposed on said outer surface of said sidewall from adjacent said base a predetermined distance from-said base toward said cup opening. 
   
   
       8 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 1  including decorative projections or depressions on said sidewall outer surface of said cup. 
   
   
       9 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 1  wherein said projection extends outwardly a distance of at least half the thickness of said sidewall. 
   
   
       10 . A disposable beverage cup configured to be received by a cup holder having a cup engagement means associated with an opening of said cup holder, said beverage cup comprising:
 a base;   at least one sidewall extending upwardly from said base to define a cup opening;   at least one depression disposed substantially horizontally in an outer surface of said sidewall a predetermined height above said base, said depression extending a predetermined distance inwardly from said sidewall;   wherein said at least one depression is configured to engage with said cup holder cup engagement means to retain said cup in said cup holder such that said cup is twisted a predetermined angle about a longitudinal axis of said cup to release said cup depression from engagement with said cup holder engagement means.   
   
   
       11 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 10  wherein said cup depression disposed on said outer surface of said sidewall not higher than half way between said base and said cup. 
   
   
       12 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 10  wherein said cup depression extending in said sidewall outer surface extends substantially circumferentially about part of all said sidewall. 
   
   
       13 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 12  including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart depressions each circumferentially disposed about part of all of said sidewall. 
   
   
       14 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 10  wherein said predetermined twisting angle about said longitudinal axis of said cup is between 2° and 55°. 
   
   
       15 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 12  including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart depressions forming a substantially corrugated outer surface in said sidewall. 
   
   
       16 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 12  wherein said depression helically disposed about said outer surface of said sidewall such that a single continuous depression is disposed in said outer surface of said sidewall from adjacent said base upwardly a predetermined distance toward said cup opening. 
   
   
       17 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 10  including decorative depressions and/or projections on said sidewall outer surface of said cup. 
   
   
       18 . A disposable beverage cup according to  claim 10  wherein said depression extends a distance of at least a third of the thickness of said sidewall.