EP2757051B1 - Cup with drink-through lid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cup made of plastic, which is suitable for a storable, cold drink, with a separable sealing film and a drinking lid, wherein the drinking lid has a raised, peripheral edge, in which a drinking opening is formed.

Coffee has been available for take away in suitable cups for many years. These are usually hot coffee, but cold drinks are offered as well. In the past, such cups essentially consisted of coated paper or cardboard and plastic covers were pressed onto them. Accordingly, such cups on a circumferential, thickened, usually flared edge, and the matching plastic cover engage with corresponding molded beads behind this beaded edge.

The drinking lids usually have a circumferential, raised edge in which a drinking opening is formed. Such a mug with aufdrückbarem drinking lid shows, for example, the US 2012/0292317 , Also US 2012/125949 discloses such a snap-on drinking lid with a full-surface, removable cover sheet.

Such cups with drinking lids are filled in Gastrobetrieben and handed over to the end user for immediate use.

In order to avoid that during transport the end customer spills the drink, various types of plastic lids have been developed, which can be partially torn open to form a drinking opening and wherein the lug-like Aufreissteil pivot back again lockable. Of course, such a drinking lid does not seal the cup from airtight, but this is not a problem because, as already mentioned, the content is intended for immediate consumption. The production of such a reclosable lid, which can be pressed onto a cup, shows the US patent application 2004/0104503 ,

From the solution, as it was known for the entrailable coffee of Gastrobetriebe, then have practically based on this solution also solutions that are suitable for industrially manufactured, storable drinks, especially cold coffee. Again, a cup was used and an attachable, simply pressed on drinking cap. But since the shelf life requires an absolutely tight container and the requirements for aseptic packaging must be given, it was no longer sufficient to press on the cup only a plastic lid.

For this purpose, it was necessary to completely seal the cup. The seal had to be applied to the peripheral edge of the cup. To make such a seal reasonably feasible, and also to increase the strength of the cup, therefore, the cups were off Made of plastic and its peripheral upper edge plan designed to weld so an absolutely dense aluminum foil easily. A well-known plastic lid was pressed over the aluminum foil on the cup sealed in this way.

However, this solution is still unsatisfactory. Although this results in a thoroughly transportable and storable container, but for the user such a solution is problematic. Often the user wants to open the cup while running or he takes the fully closed cup in his car, only to open it there. For this he must first lift off the cap, which can be done relatively easily, but then he must tear off the welded or glued with a peeling film. For this he needs both hands and if he performs this opening of the cup while running or in the car, there is a risk that he on the one hand not hold the cup exactly horizontal and if he also moves in addition, the risk is relatively large that here the drink in it spills over.

The closest prior art is the document here US-2010/0301109 considered. This discloses a cup made of plastic or paper with an external thread and a sealing foil-free drinking lid with elevated peripheral edge, in which a drinking opening is formed, and has an internal thread. The cup is used on Place to be filled with a cold or hot drink, which eliminates any safety guarantee elements. The drinking lid of this known cup has a separate, movable closure part, which can close the drinking opening tight.

It is therefore the object of the present invention, a suitable for a storable, cold beverage plastic cup with a separable sealing film and a drinking lid according to the preamble of claim 1 to create, in which the aforementioned risk of overspathing is substantially reduced.

Such storable, cold drinks are usually relatively strong sweetened. The possibility of sweetening an unsweetened drink by adding a sweetener or sugar is not provided for. Of course, it would be conceivable to stick on the cup wall or on the drinking lid packed sugar or sweetener or stick. However, this is an aesthetically unsatisfactory solution and such adhered portions of sugar or sweetener can be easily removed already in the refrigerator. It is therefore another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a solution that allows for subsequent sweetening of the beverage and aesthetically meets the needs of the marketplace. The above object is achieved by a cup made of plastic for a storable, cold beverage according to the preamble and the characterizing features of claim 1. Further inventive embodiments of the subject invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and their meaning and effect will be explained in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

zeigt einen vertikalen Diametralschnitt durch den erfindungsgemässen Becher mit Trinkdeckel und aufgesetzter, abtrennbarer Folie.

Fig. 2

zeigt einen Teilschnitt durch den Trinkdeckel und den Becher in dichtendem Randbereich, und

Fig. 3

den erfindungsgemässen Becher mit Trinkdeckel in einer perspektivischen Darstellung, wobei die abtrennbare Folie bereits entfernt ist.

Fig. 4

zeigt eine bevorzugte Form einer Versiegelungsfolie.

In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the subject invention is illustrated and described below. It shows:

Fig. 1

shows a vertical diametral section through the inventive cup with drinking lid and attached detachable film.

Fig. 2

shows a partial section through the drinking lid and the cup in sealing edge region, and

Fig. 3

the cup according to the invention with drinking lid in a perspective view, wherein the separable film is already removed.

Fig. 4

shows a preferred form of a sealing film.

In the FIG. 1 you can see the cup with the drinking lid in the assembled state as it enters the shelves. The cup is designated overall by the reference numeral 1 and the screwed on it drinking cap with 2.

On the drinking lid, the detachable sealing film 3 is attached. The slim, suitable for one-handed use cup 1 is made entirely of plastic.

It has a bottom 10, on which the cup wall 11 adjoins, which merges into a thickened wall region 12 at the top, which then forms a thinned sealing edge 15. The bottom 10 is designed slightly cambered in the center in order to have a secure state. In the thickened wall portion 12, an external thread 13 is formed. This thickened region 12 then merges into the mentioned, thinned sealing edge 15. Below the thickened wall portion 12, a stop bead 14 is provided. This can, as shown here, have an approximately radially outwardly directed, circumferential retaining ring 17. This retaining ring 17 is used for handling in a bottling plant and increases the dimensional stability of the cup 1. At least at one point according to the invention on the stop bead a positive locking means 16 is present, which is realized in the present example in the form of a radially outwardly directed rib 16 ', the meaning and effect will be described later.

On the cup 1, the drinking lid 2 is screwed. This drinking lid 2 has a top surface 20, which is integral with a circumferential, raised edge 21 is connected. On the outside of the raised edge 21, which is U-shaped in cross-section, and whose one leg extends down to the top surface 20, the outer leg of the raised edge 21 is formed in a collar 22. This collar 22 has an internal thread 23 which cooperates with the external thread 13 of the cup. The circumferential collar 22 of the drinking lid 2 further extends down to approximately the aforementioned circumferential retaining ring 17 for increasing the dimensional stability and the processability on the filling plant. From the outer leg of the raised edge 21 extends a so-called sealing olive 18, which rests on the inside of the thinned sealing edge 15. The drinking lid is dimensioned so that in the fully screwed-on state, the thinned sealing edge 15 engages between the sealing olive 18 and the circumferential collar 22 and fits snugly against the inner surface between the sealing olive 18 and the collar 22 from below. The thinned region of the sealing edge 15 causes an increased specific pressure force and thus an increased seal. The drinking lid 2 has opposite the cup thus two cooperating sealing points, namely on the one hand the sealing point, which rests on the inside of the cup by means of the sealing olive 18 and the upwardly acting dilute sealing edge 15, which presses from below onto the drinking lid 2 and so a second Forms sealing point. It is noticeable that the top surface 20 with respect to the raised peripheral edge 21 greatly downward is arranged offset. In principle, the top surface 20 could lie in the same plane as the raised edge 21, but this would form a very large welding surface, which would not make much sense. Due to the downwardly offset top surface 20, only the upper surface of the circumferential, raised edge 21 needs to be weldable, or the detachable sealing film 3 only needs to be weldable annularly.

The sealing film 3 is in the FIG. 4 shown alone. This is preferably an aluminum foil coated on both sides with plastic. While the plastic coating of the sealing film on the underside, which comes to rest against the cup 1, is a very thin coating which only serves to achieve a weldable coating, the top plastic coating which is printed may be somewhat thicker. In addition, the bottom sealing coating is made of PE-LD or PE-LLD, while the top coating is made of PE-HD. This ensures that during welding the lower coating softens so much that it forms a sealing connection with the edge of the drinking lid.

Particularly preferably, the top surface 20 is pulled down so far that they in the assembled state of cup 1 and drinking lid 2 below the through the upper edge of Sealing edge 15 defined level down. This results in a relatively large space. This is used for convenience as a space in which the nose has room during drinking, and he can, as will be described, also serve as a storage space.

The drinking lid 2 has two openings which are diametrically opposed to each other and lie in the plan plane defined by the raised edge 21. This is, on the one hand, an approximately oval drinking opening 24 and, on the other hand, a ventilation opening 25. The ventilation opening 25 serves to allow sufficient air to flow in when drinking, which replaces the drunken volume of the beverage. The raised edge 21 will preferably have a widening 21 'in the area of the drinking opening 24. This broadening causes, on the one hand, the drinking opening 24 can be made sufficiently large and on the other hand, a sufficiently large area of sweat around the drinking opening remains around.

As already mentioned above, a detachable sealing film 3 is applied to the drinking lid 2. This must be hermetically sealed to ensure the quality of the contents of the cup. Accordingly, the raised edge 21 must have a flat, annular welding surface 40 at the top. If the raised edge 21 in the area of the drinking opening 24 would be beak-shaped, as is often the case with drinking lids for such drinks, then would detachable sealing film 3 are not in a plane plane and the welding would be extremely problematic.

Accordingly, one chooses as a sealing foil aluminum foil with plastic film HD-PE so preferably an at least approximately gas-tight film. For this purpose, for example, a film of EVOH is suitable. A film of this material is virtually oxygen-tight. Consequently, the risk of oxidation of the content is largely banned. EVOH (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer) can be degraded largely without environmental impact and has proven itself both in the food industry and in the medical technology field. Such a film or an aluminum foil which is coated with plastic is welded here.

The sealing film has a flap 31 folded over the edge 21 outwards and downwards, by means of which the sealing film 3 can be pulled off. It may be useful not to weld this tab over the entire surface, so that a lower free end remains to hold the tab. The length of the tab can be virtually arbitrary. Serves only to remove the sealing film 3 so it will end at the downwardly directed outer leg of the cross-sectionally U-shaped raised edge 21. However, the tab 31 may, if extended accordingly, extend over the lower edge of the collar 22 away and so on Make a connection with the cup 1. Thus, this tab 31 then forms an integrity guarantee element at the same time. This extended tab is in the FIG. 1 dashed lines and marked with 31 '.

The tab 31 is preferably designed so wide that the entire common edge region 21 'and the part of the collar located here is covered. This is for hygienic purposes to protect the area that touches the customer when drinking with the lower lip.

In addition to the urgent task to seal the contents of the cup, the detachable sealing film 3 can also serve to seal a storage space 32, which results from the opposite of the upper, raised edge 21 deck surface 20. In the attached state of the drinking lid 2 on the cup 1, this top surface can protrude practically arbitrarily deep into the cup. Depending on the depth of this storage space 32, any addition can be accommodated herein. In particular, this storage space is suitable for receiving additions from the group sweeteners, sugar, pastries, chocolate or flavorings such as caramel or cinnamon. Since the storage space has no connection with the cup contents and this storage space is practically sealed gas-tight against this cup content, for example, when adding a pastry on a special packaging of this pastry in principle be waived. For reasons of hygiene, however, the consumer will probably rather tend to find this piece of biscuits also specially packaged in it. Of course, this also applies to the other additions mentioned.

In addition to the already mentioned possibility of an integrity guarantee element, which prevents the unnoticed temporary removal of the detachable sealing film and at the same time by the correspondingly extended tab 31 and unscrewing the drinking lid 2, of course, there is also the possibility that the drinking lid 2 with the cup 1 a destructible connection According to the invention, both the drinking lid 2 and the cup 1 form-fitting means 16, 26 are provided. According to the invention, the positive locking means 16 on the stop bead 14 a recess, and the positive locking means 26 of the drinking lid 2 is a spring tongue which engages in fully screwed state of the drinking lid in the recess, whereby the two form-fitting means 16 and 26 together form a Abdrehsicherung as a guarantee element.

Notwithstanding this, and not according to the invention, for example, the cup 1 may be provided with positive locking means 16 in the form of a sawtooth-shaped elevation or as shown here in the form of a rib 16 '. As in the sectional drawing according to the FIG. 1 the section is laid through the rib 16 ', this is the same looking as if the cut would be laid by a sawtooth-shaped increase and therefore dispenses with a special graphical representation of this solution. The drinking lid 2 then also has positive locking means. This positive locking means may be in the form of a complementarily shaped part on the collar 22. This complementarily designed positive locking means 26 may be practically a survey in the example, the sawtooth-shaped elevation intervenes or as in the FIG. 2 it can be seen a slot 26 'in which the corresponding rib 16' engages.

Preferably, one brings on the drinking lid 2 in the collar 22 a marginal window 27 at. The slot 26 'is then mounted in the immediate vicinity of this marginal window 27, so that between the window 27 and the slot 26' only a post 28 remains, which is destroyed at the first opening. Also possible is a variant with reverse twisting, in which the rib 16 'engages in the window 27 and the post 28 is deformed when screwed in the direction of the slot, which here attacking the post an arm 29 provides, which has a predetermined breaking point 290th is connected to the collar 22 and when screwing this predetermined breaking point bridge 290 is destroyed. Further embodiments of such integrity guarantee elements are known from the patent literature in large numbers. Thus, the collar 22 may of course also be provided with a circumferential guarantee strip, this guarantee strip being able to grip under the stop bead 14. Thanks to the screw connection between the drinking lid 2 and the cup 1, such integrity guarantee elements can be easily attached and can also be removed without the user spilling part of the contents.

Finally, it should be pointed out that it is of course also possible -but not according to the invention- instead of attaching an external thread on the cup as in the example shown here and on the drinking lid 2 an internal thread to provide the cup with an internal thread and the drinking lid 2 with an external thread , so that the drinking lid 2 engages in the cup 1. Even then, from the raised edge 21, a collar 22 may be outwardly extending and this collar may be provided with corresponding sealing elements which press on the outer wall of the cup 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

cups

2

drinking lid

3

detachable sealing film

10

ground

11

cup wall

12

thickened wall area

13

external thread

14

detent bead

15

thinned sealing edge

16

Positive locking means on the cup

16 '

rib

17

retaining ring

18

sealing olive

20

cover surface

21

raised edge

21 '

Widening of the edge 21

22

collar

23

inner thread

24

drinking opening

25

vent

26

Positive locking means on the drinking cup

26 '

slot

27

marginal window in the collar

28

destructible pole

29

poor

290

Break points Bridge

31

flap

32

storage space

40

welding surface

Claims (9)

1. Beaker (1), made of plastic, for a storable cold rink with a drinking lid (2) wherein the drinking lid has an elevated circumferential edge (21) in which a tightly closable drinking opening (24) is formed and wherein the beaker (1) comprises an external thread (13) and the drinking lid (2) comprises a collar (22) with an internal thread (23), characterised in that a detachable sealing foil (3) is welded in a sealing manner over the entire raised, circumferential edge (21) of the drinking lid (2) on this edge (21) and has a tab (31) which extends outwards and downward over the edge (21) in the area of the drinking opening (24) and is at least partially connected to the outer, downward-pointing collar (22) of the drinking lid (2), and in that the beaker (1) a comprises an upper, thickened wall area (12) in which the external thread (13) is formed and ends in a circumferential stop bulge (14), wherein a recess is provided in the stop bulge (14) as a positive-lock fitting means (16) and the drinking lid (2) has a spring-loaded tongue as positive-lock fitting means (26), wherein in the fully screwed-on state of the drinking lid (2) the spring-loaded tongue (26) engages in the recess of the stop bulge so that the two positive-lock fitting means (16, 26) jointly form protection against unscrewing as a guarantee element.
2. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 1 characterised in that the tab (31) is adhered to the beaker (1) via the outer and downward pointing collar (22).
3. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 1 characterised in that present in the raised, circumferential edge (21), diametrically opposite the drinking opening (24) is a ventilation opening (25) which is covered in a sealing manner by the detachable sealing foil (3).
4. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 1 characterised in that the cover surface (20) of the drinking lid (2) is lowered so far from the elevated, circumferential edge (21) that when the drinking lid is screwed onto the beaker it comes to rest below the upper edge of the beaker (1).
5. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 4 characterised in that above the cover surface (20) a storage space (32) is enclosed in a sealed manner by the detachable sealing foil (3).
6. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 5 characterised in that the storage space (32) can be used or add-on items.
7. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 6 characterised in the add-on items are flavour additives from the group sweeteners, sugar, baked items, chocolate.
8. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 1 characterised in that the sealing foil is made of aluminium and the side facing the beaker (1) is provided with a PE-LD or PE-LLD plastic layer while the opposite side of the aluminium foil is coated with plastic layer of PE-HD.
9. Beaker with drinking lid according to claim 1 characterised in that in the area of the drinking opening (24) the drinking lid has a broadened area on the circumferential edge (21) and the tab (31) of the sealing foil (3) is as broad as the broadening (21') of the edge (21) and via the adjoining shank of the edge (21) projects downwards and thus forms a hygienic protection in this area.

Images