Insulated cup

Abstract

An insulated compound cup having a flexible polymeric inner vessel nestable within a flexible polymeric outer vessel. Each of the inner and outer vessels include a top rim, where the top rim of the inner vessel fits over and conforms to a shape of the top rim of the outer vessel. In some cases, when the inner vessel is nested within the outer vessel, the top rim of the inner vessel may be stretched to fit over the top rim of the outer vessel. When nested together, an air gap is formed between the inner and outer vessel walls. Each of the inner and outer vessels may be provided separately for use as drinking cups, wherein a consumer may nest an inner vessel within an outer vessel to form an insulated cup or may use the inner and outer vessels separately as a standard cup.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flexible polymeric vessel comprising:
 a closed bottom wall,   a longitudinal side wall extending from the closed bottom wall and defining a top rim opposite the closed bottom wall, the top rim defining an opening having a first diameter, and   wherein the side wall has a top region proximate the top rim and a bottom region, each of which have a substantially frustoconical shape,   wherein the vessel is formed as a one-piece construction and usable as a drinking vessel,   wherein the top rim of the vessel is configured to fit over and engage a rim of a cup having a cup opening diameter equal to the first diameter, and   wherein, when the vessel is nested within the cup and the top rim is engaged with the rim of the cup, at least the bottom region of the side wall of the vessel is spaced apart from a wall of the cup to form an air gap.   
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein, when the vessel is nested within the cup, the top region of the side wall of the vessel is configured to contact the wall of the cup. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the top rim of the vessel comprises a curled edge, wherein an inner dimension of the curled edge is configured to be substantially the same as an outer dimension of the rim of the cup such that when the vessel is nested within the cup, the curled edge of the vessel is stretched to fit over the rim of the cup. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a flexible polymeric cup formed as a one-piece construction and usable as a drinking vessel, the cup comprising:
 a closed bottom wall; and 
 a longitudinal side wall having a substantially frustoconical shape, the side wall extending from the closed bottom wall and defining a top rim opposite the closed bottom wall, the top rim defining an opening, 
 wherein the top rim of the cup is configured to fit within and engage the top rim of the vessel, and 
 wherein the vessel is configured to fit within the cup such that, when the vessel is nested within the cup, the side wall of the vessel is spaced apart from the side wall of the cup to form an air gap. 
   
     
     
         5 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the vessel is nested within the cup, the side wall of the vessel in the top region contacts the side wall of the cup. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the vessel is nested within the cup, the bottom wall of the vessel is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the cup. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the top rim of each of the vessel and the cup comprise a curled edge. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein the curled edge of the cup comprises first and second 90-degree turns inward in the form a spiral, and the curled edge of the vessel fits over and conforms to a shape of the curled edge of the cup. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein an inner dimension of the curled edge of the vessel is substantially the same as an outer dimension of the curled edge of the cup such that when the vessel is nested within the cup, the curled edge of the vessel is stretched to fit over the curled edge of the cup. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the top rim of the cup comprises a curled edge and the top rim of the vessel comprises a peripheral attaching flange. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel according to  claim 10 , wherein the curled edge of the cup comprises first and second 90-degree turns inward in the form a spiral, and the peripheral attaching flange comprises a recess configured to fit over the curled edge of the cup. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the top rim of the vessel comprises a peripheral attaching flange and the top rim of the cup comprises a radially extending lip configured to fit within a recess in the peripheral attaching flange. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the vessel and the cup each comprise a circumferential foot extending axially from a bottom wall thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel according to  claim 13 , wherein the circumferential foot of the vessel is configured to fit snugly within the circumferential foot of cup. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the vessel and the cup, once nested together, are detachable from each other and are usable independently. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the vessel and the cup, once nested together, are not intended to be separated. 
     
     
         17 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the vessel and the cup are disposable. 
     
     
         18 . The vessel according to  claim 17 , wherein the vessel and the cup are each formed of high-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or polypropylene. 
     
     
         19 . A drink container product comprising,
 a plurality of each of the vessels and cups of  claim 4  packaged for sale,   wherein each of the vessels are packages in a first plastic sleeve and each of the cups are packages in a second plastic sleeve,   wherein each of the plurality of vessels and cups are configured for use individually as drinking cups, or the vessel is nestable within the cup to form an insulated cup.   
     
     
         20 . A drink container product comprising,
 a number of the inner vessels and an equal number of the outer vessels of  claim 14  packaged for sale in a plastic sleeve,   wherein each of the plurality of first and second vessels are configured for use individually as drinking cups, or the inner vessel is nestable within the outer vessel to form an insulated cup.