Insulated Sleeve Patents and Patent Applications | Week 5

Hello,

In my first blog post for this week, I will be telling the story of these patents and the patent applications. I will be going over nine patents and patent applications, and discussing their background, priority date, technology, diagrams and the claims.

Tables of Contents (with patent # included)

1. US 6343735 B1 Insulating sleeve
2. US 2661889 A  Thermal coffee cup
3. US 8,251,277 B1 Thermal sleeve, method for manufacturing a thermal sleeve, and combination cup and thermal sleeve
4. US 7,922,031 B1 Insulator sleeve for a beverage container
5. US 8118189 B1  Temperature-indicating sleeve and related container
6. US 6152363 Sleeve construction for improved paperboard cup insulation
7. US 20080078824 A1 Beverage cup sleeving system and method 
8. US 20100019023 A1  Protective sleeve
9. US 20140151385 A1 Hot and Cold Cup Sleeve 

PATENT 1

US 6343735 B1 Insulating sleeve

Priority Date: May 4th, 2000

Improved sleeve that protect user's hand from hot beverages. Before coffee was made in foamed plastic containers which were very insulative- however, foamed plastic has become unfavorable over the last few years for environmental reasons. Some insulation can be provided when "double cupping" but this essentially just wastes many cups. Therefore, this patent is both economical, and it encourages people to spend less on cups, and environmentally friendly. It is an insulated sleeve that has ridges that allow for gripping- these ridges turn into air pockets that the user does not need to see which overall improves the insulations of this sleeve. This specific sleeve also included two wing portions that extend beyond the container to form air gaps (discussed previously) between the wings and the cup.Two key specifications is that there are ridges that run from top to bottom and from top to the middle of the sleeve. Overall it has a thin paperboard material, two folded sections and air gaps. 

PATENT 2 

US 2661889 A  Thermal coffee cup

Priority Date: July 20th, 1948

A container that was designed to allow user's to hold a hot beverage in their hand without it hurting them in any way. The first concept of insulating from hot beverages. Also can be used with a lid for added portability. This container has an outer frusto conical shaped sleeve and an inner corrugated lining making up the inner and the outer layer. The diagram shows the cup and the lid, which has an opening on it. 

PATENT 3

US 8,251,277 B1 Thermal sleeve, method for manufacturing a thermal sleeve, and combination cup and thermal sleeve

Priority Date: April 15th, 2005

A thermal sleeve can be used to provide thermal insulation from hot beverages. It can be used with cups and protect the users from injury or discomfort associated with hot liquids. Sleeves help replace traditional coffee mugs and make mugs more portable. The cup sleeves are made out of paper product- that is held together by adhesive. More specifically, the outer layer of the paper has 7 to 100 creases and the inner smoother layer is brought together by adhesive. The figures illustrate a thermal sleeve wrapping around the cup, and how it can be packed into various groups. The claims talk about the specific paper product they use and how it protects the entire cup.

PATENT 4

US 7,922,031 B1 Insulator sleeve for a beverage container

Priority Date: March 1st, 2007

This is an insulating sleeve for a beverage cup which is sold in big coffee establishments. You can customize your sleeve as well. Because coffee establishments like Starbucks became more popular, there was a need for a way to protect people's hand. Many different models of the insulating sleeve have been created to eliminate the need for ceramic mugs or for double cupping one's coffee. The sleeve that was created had both an inner and outer layer. Additionally in this patent, it is stated that part of the outer sleeve is translucent and can be made with any material, like clear vinyl or rubber that protects the hand. In the diagrams, we see both the inner and outer portion of the sleeve, the type of material and texture they use. In the claims, they describe the sleeve in more detail talking about the feature of being able to write on the outside of the cup. 

PATENT 5

US 8118189 B1  Temperature-indicating sleeve and related container

Priority Date: December 15th, 2006

This is a temperature indicating sleeve that is able to be placed around the outer surface of a container. When people purchase hot coffee or drinks, the cups tend to be slightly insulated giving customers an inaccurate read on how hot the beverage actually is, unless they decide to try it. This inventions is a sleeve that shows how hot the beverage is. It would use a thermally insulating material that allows the easy transmission of heat to determine the temperature. In the figures, it shows how to implement the temperature indicator. The claims talk about how this sleeve has a visibly observable temperature indicator with a temperature scale. 

PATENT 6

US 6152363 Sleeve construction for improved paperboard cup insulation

Priority Date: May 3rd, 1999

This is a sleeve specifically related to paperboard cups. It uses the air gaps previously discussed to insulate against heat. This sleeve is supposed to insulate and be able to have graphics on the sleeve. The sleeve construction has a smooth paper sleeve with a predetermined length and height with air gaps. Additionally, the air gaps have little dots of hot glue and foam. The figures show how to construct the sleeve from a front angle, and the claim talks about what materials to use and the dimensions of each sleeve. 

PATENT 7

US 20080078824 A1 Beverage cup sleeving system and method 

Priority Date: August 23rd, 2007 

A lot of different establishments use portable cups that need sleeves for both hot and cold beverages. However, if a sleeve gets wet, it essentially becomes useless. The technology behind it would be to create a sleeve that it has two layers that use silicone, rubber for insulation. The patent also mentions that there is velcro involved which is shown in the figures. 

PATENT 8

US 20100019023 A1  Protective sleeve

Priority Date: July 25th, 2008

This is a protective sleeve that ultimately reduces environmental waste. When beverages both hot and cold are dispensed into drinking cups that may be paper, plastic or foam, they often times do not provide the correct amount of insulation. This will lead to an uncomfortable experience for the consumer. The technology behind this is to create a paperboard that is biodegradable and can be manipulated to be flat. This builds off of other inventions in the past, improving on old concepts. The diagrams show a sleeve placed on a cup that is flat. The claims state that it will be used for a container with an arch like shape. 

PATENT 9

US 20140151385 A1 Hot and Cold Cup Sleeve

Priority Date: February 6th, 2014

A sleeve is used for both hot and cold beverage cups and that is glued together, lightweight and disposable. It has a total of three layers which helps the cup from falling apart. This is a really effective sleeve for hot drinks. It has a water-absorbent lining and a water repellent outer layer- and a special coating on polyethylene. The diagrams show a three dimensional view of the sleeve and a front view and assembly of the sleeve. The claims show that it has a water absorbent lining, 
and elaborates on the specific measurements. 

Thanks for reading!