Insulative sleeve for beverage cup

Abstract

An insulative sleeve for a beverage cup is disclosed which includes a flexible insulative sheet having a first end and a second end, when the flexible insulative sheet being rolled into the insulative sleeve, the first and the second end being next to each other without overlapping, and a joinery strip having approximately the same length as the first end, approximately one half of the joinery strip removably engaging the first end and approximately another half of the joinery strip removably engaging the second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulative sleeve for a beverage cup comprising:
 a flexible insulative sheet having a first end and a second end, when the flexible insulative sheet being rolled into the insulative sleeve, the first and the second end being next to each other without overlapping; and   a joinery strip having approximately the same length as the first end, approximately one half of the joinery strip removably engaging the first end and approximately another half of the joinery strip removably engaging the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible insulative sheet is shaped like a hand fan when being flattened, so that the insulative sleeve is a tapered tube. 
     
     
         3 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible insulative sheet is made of a foam rubber material. 
     
     
         4 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible insulative sheet is laminated with a cloth. 
     
     
         5 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the joinery strip has a first and a second protruding member for engaging the first end and the second end, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second protruding member leans toward each other by a predetermined angle. 
     
     
         7 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the first and the second protruding members are round pegs for being tightly fit into round holes in the flexible insulative sheet positioned near the first and the second end, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 7 , wherein the round pegs have a bulged middle section. 
     
     
         9 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 7 , wherein the joinery strip is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the first and the second protruding members are blades for being inserted in cuts formed in the flexible insulative sheet near the first and the second end, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 10 , wherein the joinery sleeve is made of a sheet metal with the blades stamped thereout. 
     
     
         12 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the joinery strip substantially covers a seam formed by the first and the second end. 
     
     
         13 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the first and the second protruding member each has a concave space on top thereof, and the joinery strip further comprises a cover strip having a third and fourth protruding member fitting in the concave spaces in the first and the second protruding member, respectively, for removably attaching the cover strip to the first and the second protruding member. 
     
     
         14 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the joinery strip includes two substantially parallel plates joint by a part substantially perpendicular to the parallel plates, a first gap formed between the parallel plates to one side of the perpendicular part being capable of removably retaining the first end, and a gap formed between the parallel plates to the other side of the perpendicular part being capable of removably retaining the second end. 
     
     
         15 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 14 , wherein the parallel plates have one or more spikes on surfaces facing the first and the second gap, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the spikes incline toward a middle of the joinery strip. 
     
     
         17 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the spikes on opposite surfaces of the parallel plates are not aligned in a direction perpendicular to the parallel plates. 
     
     
         18 . The insulative sleeve of  claim 14 , wherein the joinery strip is made of a plastic material.