FIELD OF THE INVENTION :
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a food or beverage container, and more
particularly to a paper cup provided with a collapsible bottom to facilitate the disposal
of the paper cup after it is used.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0002] From the standpoint of environmental protection, it is a rather desirable practice
that the used paper cups are squeezed with hand to cave in so as to reduce their volume
before they are thrown into the garbage can. However, such a desirable practice as
described above is discouraged by the fact that the conventional paper cups are generally
provided with a bottom having a tough support which can not be caused to give way
easily with hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0003] It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a paper
cup with a collapsible bottom.
[0004] In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of
the present invention is attained by a paper cup comprising a cylindrical body having
an open top and a bottom which is provided on the underside thereof with a plurality
of radiating rows of waterproof tearing traces. Located in the vicinity of the center
of the underside of the bottom are a small handle and a large arrow indicating the
direction in which the small handle is pulled to cause a total breakdown of the bottom
of the paper cup. The bottom of the paper cup is further provided centrally on the
underside thereof with a plurality of small arrows identifying the area to be pressed
with finger to bring about the tearing of the bottom of the paper cup along the tearing
traces.
[0005] The foregoing objective, features, functions, and advantages of the present invention
will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed
description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
[0006]
- FIG. 1
- shows a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2
- shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3
- shows a schematic view of the present invention at work.
- FIG. 4
- shows another schematic view of the present invention at work.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT:
[0007] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a paper cup embodied in the present invention comprises a
cylindrical body 1 having an open top and a bottom 2 which is provided on an underside
21 thereof with a plurality of radiating rows of waterproof tearing traces 3. Located
in the vicinity of the center of the underside 21 are a small handle 4 fastened thereto
and a large arrow 52 indicating the direction in which the small handle 4 is pulled
to bring about a total breakdown of the bottom 2 of the paper cup. The bottom 2 of
the cylindrical body 1 of the paper cup of the present invention is further provided
centrally on the underside 21 thereof with a plurality of small arrows 51 serving
to identify the area which is to be pressed with finger to cause the tearing of the
bottom 2 of the cylindrical body 1 of the paper cup along the tearing traces 3.
[0008] As shown in FIG. 2, the underside 21 of the bottom 2 of the paper cup of the present
invention is divided by the tearing traces 3 into four sectors, A, B, C and D. The
small handle 4 has a bottom end 41 which is located securely near a center 31 from
which the tearing traces 3 radiate. The large arrow 52 is intended to indicate the
direction in which the small handle 4 is pulled to bring about a total breakdown of
the bottom 2 of the cylindrical body 1, as shown in FIG. 3. The sectors B, C and D
are provided respectively with a small arrow 51 serving to identify the area which
is to be pressed with finger to bring about the tearing along the tearing traces 3,
as shown in FIG. 4. The bottom 2 of the cylindrical body 1 of the paper cup of the
present invention can be therefore torn up easily by pressing with finger the area
which is pointed at by the small arrows 51.
[0009] The embodiment of the present invention described above is to be regarded in all
respects as merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention
may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof.
The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following
appended claim.
1. A paper cup comprising a cylindrical body having an open top and a bottom which is
provided on an underside thereof with a plurality of waterproof tearing traces radiating
from a center of said underside and is further provided on said underside thereof
with a handle fastened thereto near said center of said underside, and with a large
arrow indicating a direction in which said handle is so pulled as to cause a total
breakdown of said bottom of said cylindrical body, said bottom still further provided
centrally on said underside thereof with a plurality of small arrows serving to identify
an area which can be pressed with finger to bring about the tearing up of said bottom
along said tearing traces.