WO2019036763A1

WO2019036763A1 - A cup suitable for takeaway beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2019036763A1
Application number: PCT/AU2018/050897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam McGregor Gardner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-08-24
Filing date: 2018-08-23
Publication date: 2019-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-24

Abstract

A recyclable cup comprises an outer part of recyclable paperboard or cardboard, and an inner part of recyclable plastics material. Each of the parts has a respective cup-shaped form with the inner part configured to fit within the outer part. The outer part includes an outwardly rolled upper margin defining a circumferential bead. The inner part includes an outwardly and downwardly curved upper margin defining a downwardly open channel having an inwardly curved outer skirt. The inner part is receivable into the outer part so the bead locates in the channel with the skirt behind and clipped onto and engaging the bead to secure the inner part within the outer part while enabling the separation of the parts whereby the cup can contain and carry liquids.

Description

A CUP SUITABLE FOR TAKEAWAY BEVERAGES

Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to a cup suitable to carry and contain takeaway beverages and of a form that facilitates recycling.

Background of the Invention

[002] Disposable cups like many other plastic packaging items are great and practical until their disposal is appropriate. Disposable cups for coffee and other beverages or drinks are the second largest packaging item that pollutes ecosystems around the world, and second only to plastic bottles. With the world's coffee addiction and the common unrecyclable cardboard from which the cups are currently made, this is fully understandable. Most common disposable cups are lined with either a polyethylene or polypropylene plastics material, or a waxed-based material. Due to the permanent adhesion of these linings to the cardboard material in which the cups are made, the majority are not recycled. Estimates suggest that globally less than 1 % are recycled. This is due to recycling facilities needing specialised processing equipment to separate the two materials. Even in well developed countries, the majority of recycling facilities and technologies are simple and usually outdated. The sheer numbers of these plastic or wax lined disposable cups piling up in landfills is enormous. It's also environmentally devastating, because the plastic lining inside the cups does not biodegrade and will persist in the ecosystem for hundreds of years. There exists a need for the solution to this problem that is practical, cost-effective, use common packaging materials and technologies, and to fit readily into the waste disposal and recycling systems that already exist. Even with current consumer trends to address the problem, such as providing reusable coffee cups such as the 'KeepCup', there will remain a substantial demand for disposable coffee cups, and also other takeaway beverage cups such as disposable soft drink cups. As a consequence the majority of disposable cups are not recycled, but rather are disposed of as landfill, even though the plastics lids are able to be recycled. This inability to recycle the cups not only is an environmental disaster on a global scale, but it also is an extremely undesirable, costly waste of resources. [003] There have been attempts in the past to create innovative and more environmentally friendly disposable cup designs, through the use of many different materials and design concepts. No prior attempt has succeeded fully in creating a practical, cost-effective and fully recyclable disposable cup that is manufactured from recycled materials. To achieve a disposable cup that is fully recyclable, it has to be made from common and inexpensive recyclable materials that do not need new technologies and processes for recycling. Also, the created disposable cup has to be practical for its designed purpose, so scalable positive changes can be achieved in a global market.

[004] The attempts to provide recyclable cups include a disposable paper cup with a lightly adhered plastics film lining, inside of the disposable paper cup, which detaches from the cup during the recycling process. However, this is not practical as specialised equipment is needed to manufacture the cups, while the cups are not favoured by recycling centres don't like processing multilayered materials and the thin plastics film linings are not recyclable at a majority of recycling facilities. Low grade plastic, such as plastics film linings, are considered to be waste that recyclers have to dispose of with a resultant financial burden to the recycler.

[005] U.S. Patent 8,701 ,914 to Buck proposes a cup comprising a paper vessel containing a removable aluminium liner. This proposal is considered not to be practical for its intended purpose due to the relatively high cost of aluminium. Also the thermal capacity of the aluminium has a cooling effect with hot liquids and a warming effect with chilled liquids, while it also potentially risks an adverse taint from possible corrosion products. More importantly, there is a risk of the aluminium liner separating from the paper vessel due to an inadequate engagement between the upper peripheries of the vessel and the liner.

[006] European patent specification EP 2,647,586 to Bergner proposes a container that can be manufactured from many different materials. Such materials include paper/cardboard for an outer vessel that includes resistant barrier layers that are permanently adhered to the paper/cardboard material. Also this prior art includes the use of biopolymers in its design variations for a liner. By using such materials in an invention, the invention is deemed not fully recyclable. Only limited and specialised recycling facilities process paper/cardboard with adhered plastic or wax barrier layers. This is the main reason why the majority of disposable cups aren't recycled, and the main reason why the waste problem currently exists, which is barrier lined disposable cups. For a disposable container to be deemed fully and easily recyclable, it must not include specialised materials such as biopolymers or multilayered materials. However, like US 8,701 ,914, the proposal of EP 2,647,586 proposes an in adequate engagement between the upper peripheries of the vessel and the liner such that there is a risk of separation.

[007] Other proposals include disposable cups made from biodegradable plastics, but these are more expensive to produce. They also are not fully biodegradable in most normal environmental conditions, and are also not recyclable. Thus there remains a need for a disposable cup suitable to carry and contain takeaway beverages and of a form that facilitates recycling and the present invention seeks to fulfil that need. At least in preferred forms, the invention provides a cup that is able to be practical, cost-effective and manufactured from fully recyclable common packaging materials, and that also fits directly into the current recycling system.

Summary of the Invention

[008] A recyclable cup of a type suitable for use to contain and carry takeaway beverages, the cup comprising a vessel defining an outer part made of recyclable paperboard or cardboard, and a liner defining an inner part made of recyclable plastics material, with each of the outer part and the inner part having a respective cup-shaped form with the inner part configured to fit within the outer part; the outer part includes an upper peripheral margin that is outwardly rolled to define a circumferential bead around the upper periphery of the outer part; the inner part includes an upper peripheral margin that is curved outwardly and downwardly to define a downwardly open peripheral channel having an inwardly curved outer peripheral skirt; and wherein the inner part is received, or receivable, into the outer part whereby the circumferential bead locates within and around the peripheral channel such that the peripheral skirt locates behind and clips onto and engages the circumferential bead to secure the inner part within the outer part in a manner enabling the separation of the inner and outer parts whereby the resultant cup is effective for containing and carrying liquids. Thus the resultant cup is effective for containing and carrying liquids while, at least in preferred form, is suitable for insulating liquids so as to be effective for retaining the temperature of a cold or hot liquid.

[009] The inner part of the cup may have a peripheral sidewall with an external surface that, with the inner part secured within the outer part, is in surface to surface contact with or closely adjacent to an inner surface of a peripheral sidewall of the outer part over substantially the entire areas of the respective sidewall surfaces. In one alternative, the inner part of the cup may have a peripheral sidewall with a circumferentially spaced array of upright ridges standing proud of an external surface of the sidewall such that, with the inner part secured within the outer part, the ridges space the sidewall of the inner part from a peripheral sidewall of the outer part to thereby form an airgap between the respective sidewalls over substantially the entire areas of the respective sidewalls. In another alternative, the inner part has a peripheral sidewall has a corrugated form so as to define circumferentially extending, alternating ribs and grooves such that, with the inner part secured within the outer part, the sidewall of the inner part is spaced from a peripheral sidewall of the outer part to thereby form an airgap between the respective sidewalls over substantially the entire areas of the respective sidewalls. The respective sidewalls may be of frusto-conical form and decrease in cross-section from the top to the base. The average material thickness of the sidewall of the outer part preferably is between 100 pm - 400 μΐΎΐ, while the average material thickness of the sidewall of the inner part preferably is between 25pm - 400pm.

[010] The outer part of the cup may be made of recyclable paperboard or cardboard comprising recycled paperboard and/or cardboard material, fresh paperboard and/or cardboard material, or a mixture of recycled and fresh materials. Apart from water- based recycling compatible adhesive, the outer part preferably is free of plastics material and can be recycled. The inner part may be manufactured from recyclable plastics material selected from fully from recycled plastics material, fully from fresh plastics material, or from a mixture of recycled and fresh materials and, in each case, each of the parts 14 and 1 14 can be easily recycled. The plastics material may be a food grade plastics selected from polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), high-density polyethylene (rHDPE), and polypropylene (rPP).

[01 1] The cup of the invention may be supplied in a pre-assembled form in which the inner part is secured within the outer part. Alternatively, the parts may be supplied as separate components intended to be assembled when required for use.

[012] The outer and inner parts of the cup of the invention are made of recyclable material, most preferably of recycled material and typically of respective recyclable materials. The outer part preferably is made from paperboard and/or cardboard that preferably is at least partially, and most preferably fully, of recycled paperboard and/or cardboard material. The outer part of paperboard and/cardboard may have peripheral sidewall of a thickness of from 100 μιτι to 400 pm. The inner part of the cup is made from recyclable plastics material that preferably is at least partially, and most preferably fully, of recycled plastics material. The inner part of plastics material may have a peripheral sidewall of a thickness of from 25pm to 400pm.

[013] Each of the outer and inner parts of the cup of the invention has a peripheral sidewall that may be, and preferably is, of a frusto-conical form such that a respective sidewall of each of the part decreases in circular cross-section from top to bottom. The arrangement may be such that, with the inner part secured within the outer part, the peripheral sidewall of the inner part has an outer surface that bears against or is adjacent to an inner surface of the peripheral sidewall of the outer part. To enable this the sidewall of each of the inner and outer part may be free of ribs or other structures such that the respective surfaces are of a simple, unfeatured curved form. However, those respective surfaces preferably are spaced slightly from each other to define a gap or series of gaps over and between at least a major part of their areas, such as apart from where spacer structures are provided on one or each of the surfaces. To provide such spacing, one or each surface may have spacer structures comprising ribs or ridge members that extend between the top and bottom of the respective surface of the sidewall of the inner or outer member, or one or each respective surface may have circumferential ribs or ridge members.

[014] Where the respective opposed surfaces of the sidewalls of the inner and outer parts of the assembled cup are spaced by at least one gap, the extent of possible surface-to-surface contact between the upper peripheral margin of the inner part and the circumferential bead at the top periphery of the outer part may be less than where the respective surfaces bear against each other or are closely adjacent. The extent of possible contact arcuately around the bead can vary form about 150° to about 300°, such as from about 180° to 270°, with the lower end on the range being more applicable where the respective surfaces are spaced and the upper end on the range being more applicable where the respective surfaces are in contact or closely adjacent. The respective sub-ranges may be from about 150° to 220°, such as from 180° to 200°, for the lower end range, and 190° to 300°, such as 210° to 270°, for the upper end of the range.

General Description of the Drawings

[015] In order that the invention may more readily be understood, description now is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of cup according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an outer part of the cup of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first alternative for the inner part of cup similar to Figure 1 , but according to a second embodiment;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a cup similar to that of Figure 1 , but with an inner part as in Figure 3 and in accordance with the second embodiment;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows on an enlarged scale the detail shown encircled in the upper, right corner of the sectional view of Figure 5, but with the addition of a closure to the cup of Figure 1 ; Figure 7 is similar to Figure 6, but shows detail of an alternative form;

Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 3, but shows a second alternative form of inner part for a cup according to a third embodiment according to the invention;

Figure 9 corresponds to Figure 3, but shows the form of inner part for a cup according to the first embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 6, but relates to a cup according to the first embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 1 1 corresponds to Figure 6, but relates to a cup according to the third embodiment of Figure 8, with an inner part as shown in Figure 8;

Figure 12 illustrates a side view of a lid corresponding to that depicted in part in Figures 6 and 7 and suitable for use with the cup of each of the first, second and third embodiments;

Figure 13 correspond to Figure 12 but shows an alternative form of lid also suitable for use with each of those embodiments;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the lid shown in Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the lid shown in Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a cup according to any of the illustrated embodiments with a fitted lid as shown in Figures 12 and 14; and

Figure 17 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a cup as in Figure 16 in accordance with the first embodiment of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

[016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an open topped cup 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of cup 10 shown in relation to a closure or lid 12 also shown in Figures 12 and 14. As can be appreciated from Figure 17, the cup 10 as shown in Figure 1 is an assembly of an inner part 14 made of a suitable plastics material and an outer part 16 made of paperboard or cardboard. Each of the parts 14 and 16 has the form of an open topped cup such that, when assembled together, part 16 provides a liner for a vessel defined by part 14. On assembly, the outer part 14 and the inner part 16 are clipped together around the respective top edge of the parts 14 and 16. [017] The inner part 14 of cup 10 is made of a plastics material, while the outer part 16 is made of a paperboard or cardboard. The inner part 14 fits neatly inside, and clips onto, the outer part 16 to secure the parts 14 and 16 in assembly. This clipping of the inner part 14 onto the outer part 16 is achieved by:

(a) the outer part 16 having an upper peripheral margin that is outwardly rolled to define a circumferential bead 18 around the upper periphery of the outer part 16; and

(b) the inner part 14 having an upper peripheral margin 20 that is curved outwardly and downwardly to define a downwardly open peripheral channel 20a that has an inwardly curved outer peripheral skirt 20b.

The arrangement is such that as the inner part 14 is received into the outer part 16, the bead 18 locates within and around the channel 20a such that the peripheral skirt 20b locates behind the bead 18, so as to be below the bead 18 in the normal orientation of the cup 10. Thus, the margin 20 clips onto and engages the bead 18 to secure the inner part 14 within the outer part 16, but in a manner enabling the separation of the inner and outer parts 14, 16. Thus the resultant cup 10 of the assembled parts 14, 16 is effective for containing and carrying liquids. At least in a preferred form, the cup 10 can be suitable for insulating liquids so as to be effective for retaining the temperature of a cold or hot liquid.

[018] Figure 2 illustrates the outer part 16 of the cup 10 shown in Figure 1 . The part 16 differs from the paperboard and/or cardboard of any known disposable cups as part 16 does not contain an adhered plastic or wax internal liner. The part 16 is able to be manufactured fully from recycled paperboard and/or cardboard material, fully from fresh paperboard and/or cardboard material, or from a mixture of recycled and fresh materials and, in each case, the part 16 can be easily recycled. The part 16, in combination with the inner part 14, only needs to provide structural support for the assembled cup 10 and the part 16 is not required to provide waterproofing and/or sealing capability. No moisture resistant barrier layers, such as plastics or waxes, are present in the part 16, ensuring the part 16 fully recyclable after use. However, a small amount of adhesive will be used to enable construction of the part 16, although the adhesive preferably is no more than required for construction to attach a base panel to the peripheral sidewall 16a, and to bond the edges of a blank from which the sidewall 16a is formed. Also, the adhesive may be added to consolidate an upper rolled edge of the sidewall 16a that forms the bead 18 to ensure the bead 18 has sufficient rigidity to enable the bead 18 to be received into the channel 20a. However, the adhesive should be of the same type used in magazine and cardboard packaging construction that is readily accepted in common recycling streams, and be an adhesive acceptable in recycling streams and comprise a water-based recycling compatible adhesive (RCA). The outer part 16 may be of singular or multilayered form to comprise single- or double-walled form.

[019] Figure 9 shows the inner part 14 of the cup 10 of the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 17. Figure 3 shows an alternative form of inner part 1 14 that, with an outer part 16 as in Figure 2 forms a cup 1 10 of a second embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5. The inner part 14 of Figures 1 and 17, over a major part of its height, is of a corrugated form defined by alternating ribs 22 and grooves 24 extending circumferentially, both internally and externally, around the peripheral sidewall 14a of the inner part 14. Each of the inner parts 14 and 1 14 is able to be manufactured fully from recycled plastics material, fully from fresh plastics material, or from a mixture of recycled and fresh materials and, in each case, each of the parts 14 and 1 14 can be easily recycled. However, there is no need to use virgin material for these parts 14 and 1 14 given the abundance of appropriate material already in the recycling and waste management system. Recycled food grade plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), high-density polyethylene (rHDPE), and polypropylene (rPP) are preferred materials for the inner parts 14, 1 14. Recycled food grade plastics are safe for food and beverage use, and also have a cost advantage over virgin plastics. Other types of recycled plastics may also be used for the inner parts 14, 1 14.

[020] Each of the inner parts 14, 1 14 is slightly smaller in dimensions than the outer part 16. This is to enable the inner part 14,1 14 to fit neatly inside the outer part 16. The inner part 14, 1 14 is mechanically secured in the inner part 16 and no adhesive is required for the securement. That is, securement is by the bead 18 of the outer part 16 locating within and around the channel 20a of the upper peripheral margin 20 such that the peripheral skirt 20b locates behind the bead 18, so as to be below the bead 18 in the normal orientation of the cup 10 such that the margin 20 clips onto and engages the bead 18 to secure the inner part 14, 1 14 within the outer part 16. However, this enables the separation of the inner part 16 from and outer part 14, 1 14.

[021] Figure 4 is a top plan view of a cup 210 according to the second embodiment, with an outer part 16 as in Figure 1 and an inner part 14 as in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4. In the arrangement of Figures 4 and 5, the inner part 14 fits neatly inside the outer part 16 such that the outer surface of the sidewall 14a of part 14 contacts or is closely adjacent to the inner surface of sidewall 16a of part 16, while the base 14b of inner part 14 rests on or is closely adjacent to the base 16b of the outer part 16.

[022] Figures 4 and 5 show the parts 14, 16 fully assembled together such that cup 210 is ready for use. The sectional view of Figure 5 and the enlarged detail of Figure 6 make apparent how the bead 18 of the outer part 16 locates within and around the channel 20a of the upper peripheral margin 20 of part 14 such that the peripheral skirt 20b locates behind, that is below, the bead 18 in the normal orientation of the cup 10, with the margin 20 clipping onto and engaging the bead 18 in a releasable manner to secure the inner part 14 within the outer part 16. As will be appreciated, this securement and release involves elastic flexing and recovery of the margin 20 to enable the bead to pass into and out of the channel 20a. Figure 6 shows the bead 18 is substantially encircled within the channel 20a, by margin 20, such as to an extent of from about 270° to 300°. The connection between bead 18 and margin 20 must be sufficiently tight fitting and secure for functionality and safety, to ensure the inner part 14 does not detach from the outer part 16 while being used by a consumer, and also to provide a firm and secure foundation for a lid 30 as shown in Figure 6.

[023] The lid 30 shown in Figure 6 also is shown in Figures 12 and 14, is able to be similarly fitted to the cup 210 in a manner similar to the securement of parts 14, 16 together. The lid 30 has a top panel 32 and a peripheral skirt 34 depending from the panel 32. A channel 36 is defined by a lower margin 38 of the skirt 34, with the lid made of a recyclable plastics material, with the margin 38 able to elastically flex and recover to enable the external part of the margin 20 that defines channel 20a to pass into and out of the channel 36. Figure 6 shows the external part of margin 20 that is received within channel 38 is in excess of 180°, as is preferred, such as up to about 200°.

[024] Figures 6 and Figure 7 are similar in overall form, and differ only in the inclination of a portion 20c of margin 20 beyond the opening to channel 20a of inner part 14. The portion 20c in Figure 6 extends substantially parallel to the axis of the cup 210, whereas in Figure 7 the portion 20c flares downwardly and outwardly plastic from the axis such as at an angle of about 45^°.

[025] Figure 8 shows an alternative to the previously described inner part 14 shown in Figures 1 and 9. Rather than having circumferential corrugations as for part 14 of Figure 9, the inner part 214 of Figure 8 a circumferentially spaced array of upstanding ridges 215 that stand proud of the outer surface of the circumferential sidewall 214a of the inner part 214. The ridges 215 space the sidewall 214a from the inner surface of the sidewall of an outer part with which the part 214 is assembled to form a cup, and thereby creates an insulation barrier between the inner and outer part of the proposed invention. The ridges 215 also improve the overall structural strength of the part 214 and hence that of a cup including the part 214. In the inner part 14 of Figure 9, the circumferential corrugations similarly result if thermal insulation by providing air spaces between the inner and outer parts of a cup and also contribute to enhanced strength.

[026] Figures 10 and 1 1 are similar to Figure 6 but respectively show the provision of inner parts as in Figures 9 and 8. The arrangements of Figures 10 and 1 1 will readily be understood from preceding description. [027] Figures 12 and 14 provide overall respective views of a lid 30 as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and the detail of lid 30 will be understood from preceding description. The same applies to the lid 130 shown in Figures 13 and 15n as the lid 130 differs essentially only in the more shallow depth of the skirt 134, relative to skirt 34 of lid 30. The lids 30 and 130 are made of disposable plastics material, preferably such as used in the beverage industry, including common packaging plastics such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene (PE), each of which is easily and commonly recycled.

[028] Figure 16 is an external perspective view of a cup 10 with a lid 30, of which details will be apparent from preceding description. The same applies to the cup 10 shown in the exploded perspective view of Figure 17.

Claims

1. A recyclable cup of a type suitable for use to contain and carry takeaway beverages, the cup comprising a vessel defining an outer part made of recyclable paperboard or cardboard, and a liner defining an inner part made of recyclable plastics material, with each of the outer part and the inner part having a respective cup-shaped form with the inner part configured to fit within the outer part; the outer part includes an upper peripheral margin that is outwardly rolled to define a circumferential bead around the upper periphery of the outer part; the inner part includes an upper peripheral margin that is curved outwardly and downwardly to define a downwardly open peripheral channel having an inwardly curved outer peripheral skirt; and wherein the inner part is received, or receivable, into the outer part whereby the circumferential bead locates within and around the peripheral channel such that the peripheral skirt locates behind and clips onto and engages the circumferential bead to secure the inner part within the outer part in a manner enabling the separation of the inner and outer parts whereby the resultant cup is effective for containing and carrying liquids.

2. The recyclable cup of claim 1 , wherein the inner part has a peripheral sidewall having an external surface that, with the inner part secured within the outer part, is in surface to surface contact with or closely adjacent to an inner surface of a peripheral sidewall of the outer part over substantially the entire areas of the respective sidewall surfaces.

3. The recyclable cup of claim 1 , wherein the inner part has a peripheral sidewall with a circumferentially spaced array of upright ridges standing proud of an external surface of the sidewall such that, with the inner part secured within the outer part, the ridges space the sidewall of the inner part from a peripheral sidewall of the outer part to thereby form an airgap between the respective sidewalls over substantially the entire areas of the respective sidewalls.

4. The recyclable cup of claim 1 , wherein the inner part has a peripheral sidewall has a corrugated form so as to define circumferentially extending, alternating ribs and grooves such that, with the inner part secured within the outer part, the sidewall of the inner part is spaced from a peripheral sidewall of the outer part to thereby form an airgap between the respective sidewalls over substantially the entire areas of the respective sidewalls.

5. The recyclable cup of claim 1 to 4, wherein the respective sidewalls are of frusto-conical form and decrease in cross-section from the top to the base.

6. The recyclable cup of claim 1 , wherein the average material thickness of the sidewall of the outer part is between 100 μηι - 400 μηη.

7. The recyclable cup of claim 1 , wherein the average material thickness of the sidewall of the inner part is between 25μηη - 400μηη.

8. The recyclable cup of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the outer part is made of recyclable paperboard or cardboard comprising recycled paperboard and/or cardboard material, fresh paperboard and/or cardboard material, or a mixture of recycled and fresh materials and, apart from water-based recycling compatible adhesive, the outer part is free of plastics material and can be recycled.

9. The recyclable cup of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the inner part is made from recyclable plastics material selected from fully from recycled plastics material, fully from fresh plastics material, or from a mixture of recycled and fresh materials and, in each case, each of the parts 14 and 1 14 can be easily recycled.

10. The recyclable cup of claim 8, wherein the plastics material is a food grade plastics selected from polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), high-density polyethylene (rHDPE), and polypropylene (rPP).