HK1161669A - Protective sleeve - Google Patents

Description

Protective sleeve

Background

Consumers may have difficulty holding hot and cold beverages or food products (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, soups, etc.) while pouring them into containers such as drinking cups. For example, single layer paper cups and plastic drinking cups often do not have sufficient insulating properties when filled with hot or cold beverages. Thus, gripping such containers may be uncomfortable for the consumer.

Disclosure of Invention

A container and a protective sleeve surrounding the container are disclosed. The container and sheath include a body having a first edge and a second edge, and a surface between the edges. Uniquely designed raised and/or lowered images are applied to the surface in an ordered or random pattern. The pattern of raised and/or lowered images may generally create uninterrupted air passages from the first edge to the second edge.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be incorporated into this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheath assembled with a cup.

Fig. 2A is a picture depicting an unassembled jacket.

Fig. 2B is a top view of the assembled sheath.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting an exemplary image.

Fig. 4A is a picture depicting an unassembled jacket.

Fig. 4B is a top view of the assembled sheath.

Fig. 5A is a picture depicting an unassembled jacket.

Fig. 5B is a top view of the assembled sheath.

Fig. 6A is a picture depicting an unassembled jacket.

Fig. 6B is a top view of the assembled sheath.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

Fig. 9 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

Fig. 10 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

Fig. 13 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

Fig. 14 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

Fig. 16 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

Fig. 17 is an exemplary view of an unassembled sheath.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an exemplary container.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a method of making a protective casing.

Detailed Description

A container and a protective sleeve for use with the container are disclosed. The sheath may be used with a container such as a cup, including the containers disclosed herein. When placed on a container such as a cup, the sheath may provide a layer of insulation between the container and the user's hand. The sheath may have a width from top to bottom that is about the width of at least two fingers of an adult, for example, and may be shaped to allow placement of a thumb and at least three fingers on the sheath.

The container may be used alone or in combination with a sheath, such as but not limited to the sheaths disclosed herein. The container can be, for example, a cup, a soup box, or other containers for holding coffee, tea, soft drinks, soup, and the like. The container can be manufactured using the same principles as the sleeve disclosed herein, for example, by making slight modifications to the size and shape of the sleeve blank and adding a container bottom and optional container lip.

The present invention relates to the application of uniquely designed raised and/or recessed images to jacket or container stock. The images may be applied to the surface of the blank in an ordered or random pattern. For example, the image may be applied in the form of a column of images. The columns may be arranged in a suitable manner to maintain an air gap between each other. The air gap may form an air channel that may provide a horizontal insulation layer. The channel may be a continuous and substantially uninterrupted conduit. The thermal properties of the jacket or container may be enhanced by the presence of the channels, for example, by reducing the rate of heat transfer between the container and the hand holding the container.

The image may be applied to the surface of the jacket and/or container stock in the form of embossing, debossing or both (e.g., with collinear or non-collinear rotary or flat disc dies). The use of substantially uninterrupted air channels for the container or jacket using embossing, debossing, or both may reduce the amount of sheet material used as compared to containers or jackets that use other methods to form the air channels, such as corrugating. For example, embossing, debossing, or both can be used to create air channels in a single sheet of material, thereby accessing the insulation layers of a multilayer jacket. Reducing the amount of sheet material used in the manufacture of the protective sleeve reduces waste, which contributes to improved environment. This disclosure describes many different image arrangements and shapes, which are illustrative and not limiting.

As shown in fig. 1, the sleeve 10 may be placed in position on the container 12. The container 12 may be conical and have a base 14 and a rim 16. The container 12 may be a plastic, foam, paper, or any other material container and may be adapted to hold hot or cold food or beverages.

The jacket 10 may be combined with the container 12 in a suitable manner such that the jacket 10 completely surrounds the circumference of the container 12. The sheath 10 may be affixed to the container 12 by, for example, friction or a volatile or non-volatile adhesive. Alternatively, the sheath may be integral with the container. The jacket 10 may be manufactured using, for example, cardboard, plastic, foam, cellulosic fiber, virgin white paper, brown recycled paper, or other recyclable or decomposable materials.

The jacket 10 may include a first edge 18 and a second edge 20, the edges 18 and 20 may be the top and bottom of the jacket, respectively, or vice versa. The first and second edges 18, 20 may be sized to accommodate the container 12, including tapered containers or non-tapered containers.

The protective sheath 10 may be constructed by securing together the ends of an elongated blank of the sheath 10 to form a continuous circle. The engaging end of the sheath may be secured by, for example, glue, a notch and cut arrangement, or other methods. The sheath 10 may be attached to the container by inserting the container into a composite sheath or by wrapping an elongate blank of the sheath 10 around the container.

Fig. 2A depicts the exemplary sheath 10 in an unassembled state. With minor modifications (e.g., size or shape), the blank 10 (shown as a jacket blank) here and in the following examples (fig. 2A, 4-17) may be used as the blank for the container 1800 in fig. 18 or the jacket 10 in fig. 1. The jacket 10 may include a first edge 18 and a second edge 20, the edges 18 and 20 may be the top and bottom, respectively, of the jacket 10, or vice versa. The sheath 10 further includes a first surface 21 and a second surface 23 extending between the first edge 18 and the second edge 20. The first surface 21 and the second surface 23 may be the inner and outer surfaces of the sheath or container, or vice versa. For example, the first surface 21 of fig. 2B may be an outer surface that contacts the user's hand, and the second surface 23 may be an inner surface that contacts the container 12 of fig. 1.

In this example, the sheath 10 includes a raised image 22. The image 22 in this example may be applied to the jacket 10 by an embossing and/or debossing (e.g., rotary die or in-line die) process and may be arranged in columns 26 starting at the top 18 of the jacket or container stock 10 and ending at the bottom 20 of the jacket or container stock 10. The images 22 may be positioned according to the present example to form a pattern on the sheath 10, and/or the images 22 may be randomly placed on the sheath 10 according to other examples disclosed herein. Further, the images 22 may be positioned so that the columns 26 line up the arc of the sheath, or the images may be positioned so that they lie horizontally to the plane of the sheet.

Each image 22 may have a respective shape. This example depicts a generally rectangular image 22 having curved ends. However, the image 22 may be any shape, such as, but not limited to, a square, a polygon, a triangle, a circle, a diamond, or any combination thereof. The depth of the image 22 in this example is, for example, 1mm to 3 mm. However, other depths are also suitable.

The images 22 in this example may be applied to the jacket 10 in columns 26, for example, from the first edge 18 to the second edge 20 of the jacket 10. The images 22 may be spaced apart from each other or may be connected to each other. If spaced from one another, the images 22 may have corresponding gaps ranging in size from the closest possible gap as determined by manufacturing capabilities to a few millimeters, or more specifically, about 2mm to about 5 mm. The images 22 of the jacket 10 may be arranged to define air gaps or air channels, for example, the images 22 may be arranged in columns 26 with spaces left between the columns to define air channels. The air passages between columns 26 may be, for example and without limitation, 1mm to 5 mm. The air channel may be continuous or substantially uninterrupted so that air flows freely in the channel (rather than being trapped in discrete small regions between the images 22).

The vertical inclination of the air passageway may be, particularly but not exclusively, from about Θ -0 ° to about Θ -60 °, preferably to about Θ -45 °, with reference to the top-to-top longitudinal axis of the sheath 10. Air channels 24 may help to transfer heat from the hot beverage by allowing hot air to escape upwardly or downwardly from the user's hand or fingers, which may help to achieve horizontal thermal isolation. The transfer of heat may be more comfortable for the user to hold the container. Furthermore, the channel may increase the stiffness of the sheath without using additional material.

Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the assembled jacket or container blank 10. This figure depicts a cross-sectional view of an air channel formed by applying the image 22 of fig. 2A, for example, with the columns 26 of recessed or raised images 22 of fig. 2A. (with minor modifications, the cross-sectional view of the container 1800 in FIG. 18 is similar.) the blank for the sleeve 10 may include fold lines 32 and 34 so that the sleeve 10 may be folded into a flat surface after removal from the cup. Folding into a flat surface allows the sheath to be efficiently stacked in a ready-to-use form. The planar form of the enclosure 10 also allows it to be more efficiently stored on a counter top, in a storage container, in a box, on a shelf, etc.

The sheath 10 can be converted from the collapsed form to the expanded form by, for example, pushing inwardly along fold lines 32 and 34. The sheath 10 in its expanded form may define an opening for insertion into the container 12 of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary single image 22. In this example, the image 22 is a truncated half cylinder. As shown, the image may have a generally polygonal plan shape when viewed in the X-Y-Z plane, such as when viewed in the X-Y plane. Further, the thermal vias may have a curvilinear vertical or Z-direction shape.

Fig. 4A depicts a blank of an exemplary jacket 10. With minor modifications (e.g., size or shape), the blank 10 may also be used as a blank for the container 1800 of fig. 18. In this example, the jacket or container blank 10 has a pattern of individual images 52, which may be recessed images. The images 52 may be applied to the jacket 10 by an embossing and/or debossing process and may be arranged in columns 56 beginning at the top 18 of the jacket 10 and ending at the bottom 20 of the jacket 10.

Each image 52 may have a respective shape. This example depicts a generally rectangular image 52 having curved ends. However, the image 52 may be any shape, such as, but not limited to, a square, a polygon, a triangle, a circle, an ellipse, a diamond, or any combination thereof. The depth of the image 52 in this example may be, for example, 1mm to 3 mm. But other depths are also suitable.

In this example, the sheath includes a recessed image 52. The image 52 in this example may be applied to the jacket 10 by an embossing and/or debossing (e.g., co-linear or non-co-linear rotary die or flat die) process arranged in columns 56 beginning at the top 18 of the jacket 10 and ending at or near the bottom 20 of the jacket 10. The depressed images 52 can be positioned according to the present example to form a pattern on the jacket 10, and/or the images 52 can be randomly positioned on the jacket 10. The images 52 may be spaced apart from each other or may be connected to each other. If spaced from one another, the images 52 may have corresponding gaps ranging in size from the closest possible gap as determined by manufacturing capabilities to a few millimeters, or more specifically, for example, but not limited to, to about 1mm to about 5 mm. The columns 56 of the image 52 may also be spaced apart from one another. The gap between the columns 56 may be, for example and without limitation, 1mm to 5 mm.

The gaps between the columns 56 may define or constitute air channels. The vertical inclination of the air duct may be about 0 ° to about 60 °, preferably to about 45 °, with reference to the longitudinal axis from the top 18 to the bottom 20 of the sheath 10. The air passage may be continuous or substantially uninterrupted so that air flows freely in the passage. The air channels can help to transfer heat from, for example, a hot beverage by allowing air to escape upwardly and/or downwardly from the user's hand or fingers. The transfer of heat may increase the horizontal thermal insulation of the jacket, thereby making it more comfortable for the user to hold onto the container. Further, the channel may increase the stiffness of the sheath or container without the use of additional material.

Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the sheath 10 of fig. 1 (with minor modifications, also similar in appearance to the cross-sectional view of the container 1800 of fig. 18). The figure depicts an air duct formed by the application of an image, for example, in the form of a column 56 of depressed images 52 in fig. 4A starting at or near the top 18 of the sheath 10 and ending at the bottom 20 of the sheath 10.

Fig. 5A depicts a blank of an exemplary jacket 10. With minor modifications (e.g., size or shape), the blank 10 in this example can be used as a blank for the container 1800 of fig. 18. In this example, the surface of the jacket 10 includes a pattern of individual images 62, 68, some of which may be concave images 62 and some of which may be convex images 68. The images 62, 68 in this example may be arranged in columns 66, 69 beginning at or near the top 18 of the jacket 10 and ending at or near the bottom 20 of the jacket 10. The columns may consist of raised images 68 in depressed images 62, 69 in 66, or a combination of these images uniformly.

Each image 62, 68 may have a respective shape. The images 62, 68 may be identical in shape or may be different from each other. This example depicts generally rectangular images 62, 68 having curved ends. However, the images 62, 68 may be any shape, such as, but not limited to, a square, a polygon, a triangle, a circle, an oval, a diamond, or any combination thereof. The depth of the images 62, 68 in this example is, for example, 1mm to 3 mm. However, other depths are also suitable.

As previously described, the images 62, 68 in this example may be applied to the sheath 10 in columns 66, 69 starting at or near the sheath top 18 and ending at or near the sheath bottom 20. The images 62, 68 may be spaced apart from one another or may be uninterrupted and continuous within their respective columns 66, 69. If spaced from one another, the images 62, 68 may have corresponding gaps ranging in size from the closest possible gap as determined by manufacturing capabilities to a few millimeters, or more specifically, for example, but not limited to, about 1mm to about 5 mm. The columns 66, 69 of images 62, 68 may also be spaced from one another. The gap between the columns 66, 69 may be, for example and without limitation, about 1mm to about 5 mm.

The jacket may also contain air channels formed by the gaps between the columns 66, 69. The vertical inclination of the air passageway may be, for example and without limitation, from about Θ to about Θ 0 ° to about Θ 60 °, and preferably to about Θ to about 45 °, with reference to the longitudinal axis of the top 18 to the bottom 20 of the sheath 10. The air channels may be substantially uninterrupted or may help to transfer heat from, for example, a hot beverage by allowing air to escape upwardly or downwardly from the user's hand or fingers. The transfer of heat helps to achieve horizontal thermal insulation and may be more comfortable for the user to hold onto the container. Furthermore, the channel may increase the stiffness of the sheath without using additional material.

Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the sheath 10 of fig. 1. (which, with minor modifications, depicts the appearance of the cross-sectional view of the container 1800 in fig. 18.) this figure depicts air channels that may be formed by the application of images 62, 68 in, for example, columns of depressions 66 or columns of projections 69.

Fig. 6A depicts a blank of an exemplary jacket 10. With minor modifications (e.g., size or shape), the blank of the jacket 10 described in this example can be used as the blank for the container 1800 of fig. 18. In this example, the jacket 10 has a pattern of individual images 72, 78, some of which are depressed images 72 and some of which are raised images 78. The images 72, 78 in this example may be arranged, for example, in a hybrid pair 76 comprising a concave image 72 and a convex image 78. Alternatively, the images 72, 78 may be arranged in pairs 76 containing only depressed images 72 or only raised images 78, or further, may be arranged in groups of three, four, or other combinations. Additionally or alternatively, the images 72, 78 may be arranged so that they alternate in a repeating or random pattern, such as recessed images 72, raised images 78; raised image 78, depressed image 72; and other modes. The images 72, 78 may alternate laterally in rows (such as the rows indicated by line 77 in the figure) (e.g., concave images 72, convex images 78), or the images 72, 78 may alternate from top to bottom in columns 79 (e.g., concave images 72, convex images 78). For example, the images 72, 78 may alternate either laterally in the rows 77 or from top to bottom in the columns 79. In another example, the images 72, 78 may alternate laterally in the rows 77, but not in the columns 79. Other permutation examples are contemplated.

Each image 72, 78 may have a respective shape. The images 72, 78 may be identical in shape or may be different from each other. This example depicts generally rectangular images 72, 78 having curved ends. However, the images 72, 78 may be any shape, such as, but not limited to, a square, a polygon, a triangle, a circle, or any combination thereof. The depth of the images 72, 78 in this example may be, for example, about 1mm to about 3 mm. But other depths are also suitable.

As previously described, the images 72, 78 in this example may be applied to the sheath 10 in pairs 76 or in other forms. The pairs 76 of images 72, 78 may be arranged in an offset arrangement (as shown), or spaced apart from one another, or continuously uninterrupted within the pairs 76. If spaced from one another, the images 72, 78 may have corresponding gaps ranging in size from the closest possible gap as determined by manufacturing capabilities to a few millimeters, or for example, but not limited to, about 2mm to about 5 mm. The pairs 76 may also be spaced apart, for example, in an offset fashion. The gap between pairs 76 in any direction may be, for example and without limitation, about 1mm to about 5 mm.

The images 72, 78 may be arranged to define air channels. For example, gaps between columns 79 of sheaths 10 may define air channels. The vertical inclination of the air passageway may be, for example and without limitation, about 60 ° (preferably about 45 °) to about 30 ° (with reference to the longitudinal axis from the top 18 to the bottom 20 of the sheath 10). The air channels may be substantially uninterrupted and may help to transfer heat from, for example, a hot beverage by letting hot air escape up or down from the user's hand or fingers. The transfer of heat helps to achieve horizontal thermal insulation and may be more comfortable for the user to hold onto the container. Furthermore, the channel may increase the stiffness of the sheath without using additional material.

Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the enclosure 10, and may also approximate the appearance of the cross-sectional view of the container 1800 in fig. 18. The figure depicts air channels made up of or defined by columns 79 of alternating depressed images 72 and raised images 78, which may, for example, be embossed and/or debossed.

Fig. 7-18 depict a number of variant image shapes, image applications, and column arrangements involved.

Fig. 7 depicts the arrangement of the blank of the sheath 10, for example, as a cut line 85 on a sheet 84. The sheet 84 may contain one or more blanks of the jacket 10, although not illustrated, the sheet may also contain one or more blanks of the container 1800 in fig. 18. With minor modifications (e.g., size or shape), blank 10 in this example can be used as the blank for container 1800 in fig. 18. The blank of the jacket 10 may be placed on the sheet 84 in a repeating pattern.

According to this example, the image 82 (which may be a raised image or a depressed image) may be applied to the entire sheet 84. After the image 82 is applied, the sheath can be separated from the sheet by cutting the blank of the sheath 10 along its cut line 85. This example also describes how to produce different shaped images 82. In this example, the image 82 is displayed in a generally triangular shape. The image 82 in this example may be applied to the blank of the jacket 10 by an embossing and/or debossing (e.g., in-line or non-in-line rotary die or flat die) process and may be arranged in columns 83 starting at the top 18 of the jacket 10 and ending at or near the bottom 20 of the jacket 10. The images 82 may be positioned in accordance with the present example to form a pattern on the sheath 10, or the images 82 may be randomly placed on the sheath in accordance with other examples disclosed herein. Further, the images 82 may be aligned horizontally with the plane of the sheet (as shown), or may follow the arc of the sheath 10 as shown in the above figures (e.g., fig. 2A).

Fig. 8 depicts a blank containing other exemplary sheaths 10 while describing variations of possible shapes and designs of the images 87, 88 applied. In this example, the images 87, 88 are displayed in a generally triangular shape. The images 87, 88 in this example can be applied to the jacket 10 as raised images 87 or lowered images 88 by a process of embossing and/or debossing (e.g., collinear or non-collinear rotary or flat dies) and can be arranged in columns 85, 86 beginning at the top 18 of the jacket 10 and ending at or near the bottom 20 of the jacket 10. In this example, the images 87, 88 are arranged in alternating columns of raised images 85 and columns of lowered images 86. The images 87, 88 may be positioned to form a pattern on the jacket or container blank 11 in this example, or the images 87, 88 may be randomly positioned on the jacket as in the previous example. Furthermore, the pattern may be replaced in other ways, such as the following repeating pattern: embossed image columns 85, raised image columns 85, depressed image columns 86; raised image columns 85, depressed image columns 86, raised image columns 85; and other modes.

The gap between the columns 85, 86 may be an air channel, which may have a vertical inclination, for example, but not limited to, of about Θ -0 ° to about Θ -60 °, preferably to about Θ -45 °, with reference to the longitudinal axis of the top 18 to the bottom 20 of the sheath 10. The air channels may help to transfer heat by allowing hot air to flow up or down from the user's hands.

FIG. 9 depicts variations of image shapes, image applications, and column arrangements. In this example, the image 94 may be elliptical and may be applied to the sheath 10 in a variety of sizes. Any number of values may be used. As previously described, the image 94 may be a raised image, a depressed image, or a combination of both, and may be applied by, for example, embossing and/or debossing processes. The images 94 may be applied in columns from the top 18 of the jacket 10 to the bottom 20 of the jacket 10. The images 94 may be arranged in a column 96 in a superimposed fashion. Each column 96 may be composed of images 94 of the same size, or of different sizes. As previously described, the images 94 within the column 96 may be continuous or spaced apart from one another. The columns 96 may be spaced apart, with the spacing between the columns defining air passages. The columns 96 and/or air channels may follow the arc of the jacket or the columns 96 and/or air channels may be aligned horizontally with the plane of the sheet in fig. 10.

Fig. 11 depicts another pattern of images 112, which may be elliptical and may be applied to the jacket or container blank 11 in the same size. As previously described, the image 112 may be a raised image, a depressed image, or a combination of both, and may be applied by, for example, embossing and/or debossing processes. The images 112 may be applied in columns 114 from the top 18 of the jacket 10 to the bottom 20 of the jacket 10. The images 112 may be arranged in a superimposed fashion with respect to one another within the column 114. Each column 114 may be composed of the same size image 112. Each column 114 may be spaced apart, for example, by about 1mm to 5mm, and each column 114 may be offset from an adjacent column 114. The spaces between the columns may define air channels, the vertical inclination of which, with reference to the longitudinal axis of the top 18 to bottom 20 of the jacket or container blank 10, may be, for example and without limitation, about Θ -60 ° (preferably about Θ -45 °) to Θ -30 °. As previously described, the images 112 within a column 114 may be contiguous or may be spaced apart from one another. The columns 114 may be aligned horizontally with the plane of the sheet (as shown), or the columns 114 may follow the arc of the sheath.

Fig. 12 and 13 depict another pattern of images 120, 130, which may be elliptical and may be applied to the sheath 10 in the same size (as shown) or in different sizes. As previously described, the images 120, 130 may be raised images, depressed images, or a combination of both, and may be applied by, for example, embossing and/or debossing processes. The images 120, 130 may be applied in columns 122, 132 from the top 18 of the jacket or container blank 11 to the bottom 20 of the jacket or container blank. The images 120, 130 may be arranged in superimposed relation to one another within the columns 122, 132. Each column 122, 132 may be spaced apart, for example, by about 1mm to 5mm, and further, each column 122, 132 may be offset from an adjacent column. The spaces between the columns may define air channels, the vertical inclination of which, with reference to the longitudinal axis from the top 18 to the bottom 20 of the sheath 10, may be, for example and without limitation, about Θ -0 ° to about Θ -60 °, preferably to about Θ -45 °. As previously described, the images 120, 130 within the columns 124, 134 may be contiguous or may be spaced apart from one another. Fig. 12 and 13 depict images 120, 130 that are closely placed together relative to the image layout in fig. 10 and 11. The columns 132 may be aligned horizontally with the plane of the sheet (as shown in fig. 13), or the columns 122, 132 may be aligned along the arc of the jacket or container stock (as shown in fig. 12).

Fig. 14 and 15 depict images 140, 150 moving closer together in rows 142, 152 while maintaining a surface of air channels that allow heat to flow laterally and near vertically. The images 140, 150 may be horizontally aligned with the plane of the sheet (as shown in fig. 14) or may be aligned with the arc of the jacket or container blank (as shown in fig. 15).

Fig. 16 and 17 depict other variations of image shapes, layouts, and column arrangements that may facilitate multi-directional heat or hot air flow up or down from a user's hand. Fig. 16 and 17 depict generally trapezoidal images 160, 170. The images are aligned in columns that are offset from adjacent columns and that constitute the horizontal and other directions of air channels previously described.

Although reference is primarily made above to a jacket, depicted in fig. 18 is a container embodiment depicting a cross-sectional view of a container printed with the previously described images. The sleeve blanks described in figures 1 to 17 can all be easily modified to form containers having the same characteristics. The container 1800 may include a lip 1810, an image 1802 arranged in columns 1804 to define air channels, a bottom, and an optional outer liner or outer wrap 1808. The image 1802 printed on the container 1800 (e.g., by embossing or debossing) may take any of the patterns disclosed or described above. The air channels may be substantially uninterrupted and help to achieve horizontal thermal insulation.

Fig. 19 depicts an exemplary method for forming the enclosure 10 of fig. 1 or the container 1800 of fig. 18. Block 90 may contain the step of applying an image to the sheet material by embossing and/or debossing (e.g., an inline or non-inline rotary die or flat die); block 91 may contain the step of cutting the sleeve 10 or container blank 1800 of fig. 18 into sheets using, for example, a cutting wire; block 92 may include the step of cutting the jacket from the sheet along a cut line. The order of these steps may be adjusted and additional steps may be added.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims (33)

1. A sleeve for encircling a container, comprising:

a body having first and second edges and a surface therebetween;

wherein the sheath comprises a raised or lowered image on the surface;

wherein the images are arranged in columns starting at the first edge of the sheath and ending at the second edge of the sheath; and is

Wherein gaps between the columns define substantially uninterrupted air channels from the first edge to the second edge.

2. A sheath as recited in claim 1, wherein the image further includes a generally rectangular shape having curved ends.

3. The sheath of claim 2, wherein the rectangular shape is a planar polygon in an X-Y plane and a curve in a Z plane.

4. A sheath according to claim 1 wherein the image has a depth of a few millimetres, preferably from 1mm to about 5 mm.

5. A sheath as recited in claim 1, wherein the images are spaced from one another in a generally vertical direction, forming columns.

6. A sheath according to claim 1 wherein the vertical inclination of the passageway, with reference to the longitudinal axis of the sheath from top to bottom, is from about Θ -0 ° to about Θ -60 °, preferably to about Θ -45 °.

7. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein each of said image columns is separated by a gap of a few millimetres, preferably from about 1mm to about 5 mm.

8. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the images are arranged in pairs comprising raised images and lowered images.

9. A sheath as recited in claim 8, wherein the images are further arranged in an offset pattern for defining substantially vertical air channels.

10. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises alternating columns of raised images and columns of depressed images.

11. A sheath as recited in claim 1, wherein the surface includes columns of raised images.

12. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises columns of depressed images.

13. A method for forming a jacket, comprising:

applying images to the surface of a sheet, wherein the images are arranged in columns beginning at the first edge of the sheath and ending at the second edge of the sheath;

wherein the columns are spaced apart from each other, thereby forming a gap;

the gaps between the columns define substantially uninterrupted air channels; and

applying a cut line for defining a blank to the sheet;

wherein the blank comprises an elongate body having a first edge and a second edge.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the image is a raised image.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the image is a recessed image.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the image is applied by embossing.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the image is applied by an debossing method.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the image is applied by a combination of embossing and debossing.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising cutting the blank from the sheet.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising joining ends of the stock material to make a jacket.

21. A container comprising a side, a body, and an opening for receiving a liquid, the body further comprising:

a first edge and a second edge, and a surface between the edges;

wherein the container comprises a raised or lowered image on the surface;

the images are arranged in columns starting at the first edge of the sheath and ending at the second edge of the sheath; and is

Wherein gaps between the columns define substantially uninterrupted air channels from the first edge to the second edge.

22. The container of claim 21, wherein the image further comprises a generally rectangular shape having curved ends.

23. The container of claim 22, wherein the rectangular shape is a planar polygon in an X-Y plane and a curve in a Z plane.

24. A container according to claim 21, wherein the image has a depth of a few millimetres, preferably from about 1mm to about 5 mm.

25. The container of claim 21, wherein the images are spaced from each other in a generally vertical direction, forming columns.

26. The container of claim 21, wherein the vertical inclination of the passageway, with reference to the longitudinal axis of the sheath from top to bottom, is from about Θ -0 ° to about Θ -60 °, preferably to about Θ -45 °.

27. A container according to claim 21, wherein each of said image columns is separated by a gap of a few millimetres, preferably from about 1mm to about 5 mm.

28. The container of claim 21, wherein the images are arranged in pairs comprising raised images and lowered images.

29. The container of claim 28, wherein the images are further arranged in an offset pattern for defining vertical air channels.

30. The container of claim 21, wherein the surface comprises alternating columns of raised images and columns of depressed images.

31. The container of claim 21, wherein the surface includes columns of raised images.

32. The container of claim 21, wherein the surface comprises columns of depressed images.

33. The container of claim 21, further comprising an outer wrap.