Spill resistant disposable cup

Abstract

A spill resistant disposable cup is comprised of a sheet of flexible material rolled into a cylindrical or frustoconical shape sealed at its edges and with a sealed bottom. The cup has at least three tabs that can be folded down in an overlapping manner to close the top of the cup. The tabs contain an interlocking mechanism to lock folded tabs in place. Two of the tabs are spaced apart to define a gap and a drinking opening when the tabs are folded down. The tabs can be shaped to form an internal sealing edge that provides resistance from leakage and spills if the cup is tipped when full.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drinking cup comprising:
 a body have a top, a bottom, and a central axis   a plurality of circumferentially arranged tabs extending from the body including at least first second and third tabs extending from the top of the body, the first, second and third tabs each being foldable towards the central axis along a respective fold line, each tab having a respective periphery having first and second edge regions extending from the respective fold line and along the respective periphery, the first, second and third tabs at least partially overlapping when folded along the respective fold lines;   the first edge regions of the first and second tabs being spaced apart at the respective fold lines to form a gap between the first and second fold lines defining a drinking edge; the first and second tabs being configured so that when the first and second flaps are folded in an overlapping manner and the third flap is folded over the first and second flaps, a drinking opening is defined by the drinking edge and at least part of the first edge regions of the first and second tabs.   
     
     
         2 . The cup of  claim 1  wherein at least part of the second edge regions of the first and second tabs are configured to form a sealing edge region having a generally continuous contour when the first and second tabs are folded in an overlapping manner, the sealing edge region being in at least close proximity to the fold line of the third tab when the third tab is folded over the first and second tabs, at least a portion of the contour of the sealing edge being substantially the same as a corresponding contour of the fold line of the third tab. 
     
     
         3 . The cup of  claim 1 , wherein the first tab includes a first elongated aperture and the third tab includes a tongue configured to engage the aperture in the first tab when the first and third tabs are folded. 
     
     
         4 . The cup of  claim 3 , wherein the second tab includes a second elongated aperture, the first and second apertures positioned to be in at least substantial alignment when the first and second tabs are folded down, the tongue configured to engage the first and second apertures when the first, second, and third tabs are folded. 
     
     
         5 . The cup of  claim 1 , wherein each fold line has a length, the drinking edge has a length, the length of the fold lines of the first and second tabs being substantially equal to each other and greater than the length of the drinking edge. 
     
     
         6 . The cup of  claim 5 , wherein the length of the fold line of the third tab is substantially the length of the fold line of the first tab plus half the length of the drinking edge. 
     
     
         7 . The cup of  claim 1 , further comprising first, second, and third creases associated with the first, second, and third tabs respectively, each crease having a first and second end and predefining at least a portion of the fold line for the respective tab. 
     
     
         8 . The cup of  claim 7 , wherein each crease is substantially parabolic along its length. 
     
     
         9 . The cup of  claim 8 , wherein, for each of the first and second tabs, the first end of the crease is spaced away from the drinking edge and the second end of the crease is substantially adjacent a point where the second edge of the respective tab meets the respective fold line. 
     
     
         10 . The cup of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an integral sheet of flexible, relatively stiff material having a seam where first and second body edges are joined together, the seam extending from the bottom to the top. 
     
     
         11 . The cup of  claim 10 , wherein the first tab includes an elongated aperture and the third tab includes a tongue configured to engage the aperture when the third tab is folded over the first tab, and wherein the seam extends through the third tab and at least part of the tongue. 
     
     
         12 . The cup of  claim 4 , wherein the first tab has a first notch therein and the second tab has a second notch there, the first and second notches configured so that the first and second tabs can interlock at the first and second notches when the first and second tabs are folded in an overlapping manner. 
     
     
         13 . The cup of  claim 10 , further comprising a handle region extending from the sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The cup of  claim 1 , further comprising a finger extending from the drinking edge and into the gap and which can be folded outward from the central axis.