Insert for a cup

Abstract

An insert for a cup includes a substantially sleeve-shaped upper region configured to facilitate a snug fit of the insert inside the cup, and a separation structure extending below the sleeve-shaped upper region shaped to accommodate a frozen substance contained within the cup. The insert allows the substance to be frozen or to remain frozen in an intended shape.

1 . A removable insert for a cup, comprising:
 a substantially sleeve-shaped upper region configured to facilitate a snug fit of the insert inside the cup; and   a separation structure extending below the sleeve-shaped upper region shaped to accommodate a frozen substance contained within the cup, thereby allowing the substance to be frozen or to remain frozen in an intended shape.   
     
     
         2 . The insert of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a compartment which is fluidly separated from an interior of the cup when the insert is positioned inside the cup.   
     
     
         3 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein the separation structure constitutes, or forms part of, the compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein an open end of the compartment is sealed with a tamper-evident, removable membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein the compartment is shaped and dimensioned to receive a beverage container inside it. 
     
     
         6 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the separation structure comprises a plurality of planar projections intersecting at a common center and is configured to divide a bottom region of the cup into a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         7 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the separation structure is wedge-shaped and tapers towards a bottom of the cup when positioned therein, and is configured to divide a lower region of the cup into two portions, each portion positioned between a major side surface of the wedge-shaped separation structure and the side of the cup. 
     
     
         8 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the separation structure is cone-shaped and tapers towards a bottom of the cup when positioned therein. 
     
     
         9 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein the compartment contains a potable liquid or edible goods. 
     
     
         10 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein the compartment contains toys, trinkets, or promotional items. 
     
     
         11 . A cup having an insert of  claim 2  secured therein. 
     
     
         12 . The cup of  claim 11 , wherein the insert is hermetically sealed inside the cup. 
     
     
         13 . The cup of  claim 11 , which is at least partially filled with a frozen substance, or a substance suitable for freezing, before the insert is positioned inside the cup. 
     
     
         14 . The cup of  claim 13 , which has at least one irregular surface configuration near an inner bottom edge thereof, which provides an area into which the substance can settle so as to increase the force needed to remove the substance in a frozen form from a bottom of the cup. 
     
     
         15 . The cup of  claim 11 , wherein the compartment contains a potable liquid or edible goods, wherein an operatively bottom region of the compartment includes at least one frangible area configured to break and release contents of the compartment into the cup when the insert is removed from or twisted inside the cup.