Sleeve for container

Abstract

A sleeve for a cup includes a shape that reduces the overall surface area of the sleeve. The sleeve contains an enlarged surface area for the thumb and another enlarged surface area for one or more fingers of the hand for thermally insulating the hand from the cup. The sleeve includes a narrow portion of material connecting these areas. The overall size of the sleeve is such that it reduces the amount of material used in the sleeve, while providing the same thermal insulative effect of a larger sleeve.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A sleeve for use with a container, comprising:
 a first enlarged area;   a second enlarged area;   a first narrow portion connecting the first and second enlarged areas, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area;   a second narrow portion extending from the first enlarged area, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area;   a third narrow portion extending from the second enlarged area, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area; and   a fastening member for connecting the second and third narrow portions.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening member is adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive is an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening member is a mechanical connection between the second and third narrow portions. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical connection is a pair of interconnecting slots. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second enlarged areas have the same width. 
     
     
         7 . A method for forming a sleeve, comprising:
 forming a blank, comprising:
 a first enlarged area; 
 a second enlarged area; 
 a first narrow portion connecting the first and second enlarged areas, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area; 
 a second narrow portion extending from the first enlarged area, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area; 
 a third narrow portion extending from the second enlarged area, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area; and 
 a fastening member for connecting the second and third narrow portions; 
   applying said blank to a sheet of material to form the sleeve; and   connecting said second and third narrow portions of the sleeve.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the connecting step comprises using adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the connecting step comprises using a mechanical connection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mechanical connection is two corresponding slots in the second and third narrow portions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sheet of material comprises a cellulose material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 positioning a repeating pattern of the blank on the sheet of material such that the enlarged areas are directly above one of the narrow portions. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the positioning step includes positioning the blanks to maximize the number of sleeves that can be cut from the material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the positioning step involves a tessellated pattern on the material. 
     
     
         15 . A sheet material having one or more blanks of a sleeve for use with a container, comprising:
 a blank comprising:
 a first enlarged area; 
 a second enlarged area; 
 a first narrow portion connecting the first and second enlarged areas, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area; and 
 a second narrow portion extending from the first enlarged area, having a width that is approximately 33 percent of the width of the first enlarged area. 
   
     
     
         16 . The sheet material of  claim 15 , wherein the second narrow portion includes an extension for connecting to the second enlarged area. 
     
     
         17 . The sheet material of  claim 16 , wherein the blank has a convex side and a concave side, and the blanks are arranged such that the concave side of one blank is above the convex side of another blank. 
     
     
         18 . The sheet material of  claim 15 , wherein the material is a cellulose material. 
     
     
         19 . The sheet material of  claim 15 , wherein the enlarged areas taper to the narrow portions. 
     
     
         20 . The sheet material of  claim 15 , wherein the material includes at least one textured surface.