Paperboard cup with moisture absorbing protection

Abstract

An open-top cup comprises a bottom wall and a side wall having inner and outer surfaces extending upwardly from the bottom wall. An outwardly curled lip formed on the free edge of the side wall. A respective insulative layer having a moisture absorbing characteristic and a respective graphic layer are attached to the outer surface of the side wall. The insulative layer is sandwiched between the outer surface of the side wall and the graphic layer.

1 . An open-top cup comprising:
 a bottom wall,   
       a side wall having inner and outer surfaces extending upwardly from the bottom wall and an outwardly curled lip formed on a free edge of the side wall,
   an insulative layer having a moisture absorbing characteristic configured to be attached to the outer surface of the side wall coextensively,   
 a graphic layer configured to be attached to the insulative layer coextensively and wherein the open-top cup has at least 25% higher moisture absorbing capability as compared to an open-top cup without having the insulative layer. 
 
     
     
         2 . The open-top cup of  claim 1  wherein the insulative layer is an insulative-absorbtive layer contains fibers which absorb moisture or water. 
     
     
         3 . The open-top cup of  claim 1  wherein the insulative layer includes 20 to 350 gsm of fibers from the group of cellulose, PLA, bicore PLA-cellulose, starch, and paper. 
     
     
         4 . The open-top cup of  claim 1  wherein the insulative layer of air laid fibers is made of a layer of cellulose, propylene, or other fibers which is formed into a sheet having a mass density lower than typical paperboard. 
     
     
         5 . The open-top cup of  claim 4  wherein the lower mass density is less than 11 pounds per 3000 square feet per mil of thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The open-top cup of  claim 4  wherein low density of the air laid fibers results in a lower thermal conductivity than a typical paper of equivalent thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The open-top cup of  claim 1  wherein the graphics layer comprising a printable surface of paper, clay, LDPE, PP, PET or other noncompostable thermoplastic. 
     
     
         8 . An open-top cup comprising:
 a bottom wall,   a side wall having inner and outer surfaces extending upwardly from the bottom wall and an outwardly curled lip formed on a free edge of the side wall,
 an insulative layer having a moisture absorbing characteristic configured to be attached to the outer surface of the side wall coextensively wherein the insulative layer includes 20 to 350 gsm of fibers from the group of cellulose, PLA, bicore PLA-cellulose, starch, and paper, 
   a graphic layer configured to be attached to the insulative layer coextensively and wherein the open-top cup has at least 25% higher moisture absorbing capability as compared to an open-top cup without having the insulative layer and wherein the graphics layer comprising a printable surface of paper, clay, LDPE, PP, PET or other noncompostable thermoplastic.