Heat flap cup sleeve

Abstract

A cup holder sleeve is formed in pre-assembled, flat-folded form by die cutting a long, flat band from paperboard material. The flat sleeve has fold lines scored into the band at spaced apart positions tapering toward each other, and side edges at opposite ends of the band. The opposite ends are folded flat at the fold lines so that the side edges overlap each other and are glued together at their overlapping surfaces. Within the flat sleeve are two “D” shaped flaps that when folded back 180 degrees upon the sleeve itself produce a double paperboard layer of heat protection for the fingers when placed on the cup.

1 . A cup holder sleeve is formed in pre-assembled, flat-folded form by die cutting a long, flat band
 a.) from paperboard material so as to have a parallel top and bottom curved or wavy edge.   b. The top and bottom edges are parallel to each other so that a common die cutting knife may be used. This procedure eliminates the need for the use of two cutting knives with space between the sleeves and thus uses a minimum of paperboard material.   c. The flat sleeve has fold lines scored into the band at spaced apart positions tapering toward each other, and side edges at opposite ends of the band.   d. The opposite ends are folded flat at the fold lines so that the side edges overlap each other and are glued together at their overlapping surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . A cup holder sleeve according to  claim 1 ,
 a. The flat sleeve has two “D” shaped die cuts at spaced apart positions.   b. The spine of the “D” is scored while the rounded part of the “D” is die cut through so that it can be folded back 180 degrees along the spine of the “D” and form a heat protective barrier for the fingers.   c. The “D” Shaped die cut areas face one another with the rounded edges of the “D”.   d. Wherein within the flat sleeve are two “D” shaped flaps that when folded back 180 degrees upon the sleeve itself produce a double paperboard layer of heat protection for the fingers.   
     
     
         3 . A cup holder sleeve according to  claim 1 ,
 a. wherein the pre-assembled sleeve can be readied for use simply by squeezing on the outside surfaces so as to bow out the flat-folded glued sleeve into an annular tapered sleeve with opened top and bottom ends for inserting a cup therein.   b. The two opposing die cut flaps are folded back 180 degrees onto the sleeve after it is placed on a cup. This doubles the thickness of the sleeve which doubles the resistance to the heat of the liquid in the cup.   c. When the “D” flaps are folded back 180 degrees, slight air gaps are formed due to the thickness of the paperboard. These air gaps further enhance the heat protective barrier formed by the “D” flaps.   
     
     
         4 . A cup holder sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein said flat-folded form allows for compact storage. 
     
     
         5 . A cup holder sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more spots of heat activated glue can be applied on the inside of the sleeve if extra adhesion to the cup is desired.