Beverage cup with nucleation sites

Abstract

A cup for containing therein a carbonated beverage is provided, comprising a smooth interior surface having distinct upper and lower portions. The interior surface is provided with one or more nucleation sites defining a predetermined total nucleation area and comprising an uppermost nucleation zone disposed on the upper portion of the interior surface, and a lowermost nucleation zone disposed on the lower portion of the interior surface. The lowermost nucleation zone comprises at least a quarter of the total nucleation area, and the lower portion does not extend above the lowermost third of the height of the cup.

1 . A cup for containing therein a carbonated beverage, the cup comprising:
 a smooth interior surface having distinct upper and lower portions, said smooth interior surface being provided with one or more nucleation sites defining a predetermined total nucleation area and comprising an uppermost nucleation zone disposed on said upper portion of the smooth interior surface, and a lowermost nucleation zone disposed on said lower portion of the smooth interior surface,   wherein the lowermost nucleation zone comprises at least a quarter of the total nucleation area, and said lower portion does not extend above the lowermost third of the height of the cup.   
     
     
         2 . The cup according to  claim 1 , said smooth interior surface further comprises a substantially horizontal base portion, at least a portion of said lowermost nucleation zone being disposed on said base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said uppermost nucleation zone is vertically spaced from said lowermost nucleation zone by a distance not less than about one third of the total height of the smooth interior surface. 
     
     
         4 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the smooth interior surface constitutes the upper half of the height of the cup, and the uppermost nucleation zone comprises at least a quarter of the total nucleation area. 
     
     
         5 . The cup according to  claim 4 , wherein the uppermost nucleation zone comprises a percentage of the total nucleation area substantially equal to the percentage of cup volume defined by said upper portion of the smooth interior surface. 
     
     
         6 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said uppermost nucleation zone is formed as a substantially horizontal ring. 
     
     
         7 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said nucleation sites constitutes at least a portion of a logo. 
     
     
         8 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nucleation sites are substantially contiguous. 
     
     
         9 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least some of said one or more nucleation sites are separated from one another by a smooth area of the smooth inner surface. 
     
     
         10 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said nucleation sites are etched onto said smooth interior surface. 
     
     
         11 . The cup according to  claim 10 , wherein the etching is performed by a laser. 
     
     
         12 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said nucleation sites comprises an element applied to said smooth interior surface. 
     
     
         13 . The cup according to  claim 12 , wherein said element comprises an enamel. 
     
     
         14 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said nucleation sites comprise a plurality of non-smooth areas separated by smooth areas. 
     
     
         15 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said nucleation sites are constituted by a continuous non-smooth area. 
     
     
         16 . The cup according to  claim 1 , being made of glass. 
     
     
         17 . The cup according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one parameter of the nucleation sites is configured to optimize a characteristic of a predetermined beverage when contained within said cup. 
     
     
         18 . The cup according to  claim 17 , wherein said characteristic is related to the rate of formation of bubbles from gas dissolved within said beverage. 
     
     
         19 . The cup according to  claim 17 , wherein said parameter comprises said total nucleation area.