The present invention relates to a container comprising a bottom at the lower end of an inner sidewall and an outer side wall, which is attached to the outer circumference of the inner side wall, wherein the outer sidewall comprises a multitude of embossed shapings, which extend radially out of the outer surface of the second sidewall and wherein the lower end of the shaping is distant from the lower end of the outer side wall.
Such containers are for example known from the state of the art for example
It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide a container which does not comprise the deficiencies according to the state of the art.
The problem is attained by a container according to claim 1.
The container according to the invention, has the advantage that it is very hygienic, because there is no gap between the outer- and the inner side wall. Additionally, the inventive container is stackable without providing additional stacking means.
Particularly the container of the invention is a cup, in which beverages, especially hot beverages such as coffee or tea or food, especially soup, mash or the like can be served. Although not a part of the invention, the container is preferably made from paper, thick paper, cardboard, fiber material, plastic material, PLA materials and/or made from renewable and/or biodegradable raw materials or a combination thereof. More preferably, the material, particularly the material from which the side walls are made, is plastically deformable, for example embossable. All parts of the inventive containers are made from this material, whereas the individual parts of the container can be made from different materials. Especially the surface of the parts of the container that are subjected to a liquid and/or vapour are preferably provided with means, especially a coating, an impregnation, a film or the like, which makes these parts at least temporarily resistant against for example humidity, water, aqueous solutions, oil and/or fat or a combination thereof. Preferably the above-mentioned means are also heat-sealable.
The container according to the present invention comprises an inner side wall, which is preferably conically shaped and which more preferably has at its upper end a bended or rolled rim. The sidewall is preferably made from a flat segment, which is subsequently formed, preferably rolled, into its, for example conical, shape. At its lower end, the sidewall comprises a bottom in order to close the container at the base. The bottom is preferably a separate part which is attached, more preferably glued and/or heat-sealed to the lower end of the sidewall of the container. The sidewall and the base define the filling volume which can be filled with a product. According to the present invention, the inner sidewall comprises stacking means to assure that the containers are easily separated from each other when being stacked. Preferably, this stacking means extends around the entire inner circumference of the inner sidewall. The stacking means extends into the container and is more preferably embossed into the inner sidewall.
According to the present invention, the container comprises an outer side wall, which is attached to the outer circumference of the inner side wall. This outer sidewall preferably extends around the entire circumference of the inner sidewall and more preferably extends essentially along the entire height of the inner side wall, particularly from the upper rim until the bottom. According to the present invention, the outer sidewall comprises a multitude of embossed shapings, which extend radially out of the outer surface of the second side walls. These embossments, together with the outer circumferential surface of the inner side wall, define channels in which gas is entrapped. Thus, no debris or the like can accumulate in the channels. The entrapped air in the channels is an insulation, so that the surface of the container that comes into contact with the hand of a user is neither too hot nor too cold.
Furthermore, the outsidewall is designed such that the lower end of the shaping does not extend to the lower end of the outer side wall, but is distant from the lower end of the outer side wall. Thus, at its lower end, the outer sidewall comprises a flat portion, preferably a flat ring, which extends around the entire circumference of the inner sidewall and which can be partially or entirely attached to the outer surface of the inner side wall.
According to the present invention, the lower end of the shaping is utilized as a stacking means, which, when two cups are stacked together, rests on the stacking means on the inner sidewall of another cup.
Since the shapings in the outer sidewall are completely closed the inventive container is very hygienic. Due to the utilization of the lower end of the embossments as stacking means, no additional stacking means have to be provided. Thus, the inventive cup is easily produced.
Preferably, the upper end of the shaping is also distant from the upper end of the outer side wall. Consequently, preferably a flat ring, which extends around the entire outer surface of the inner sidewall, is also provided at the upper end of the outer side wall. This flat ring can be connected, for example glued and/or sealed to the outer circumference of the inner side wall.
The lower end of the shaping, particularly the surface that is in contact with the stacking means at the inner sidewall of a second container is preferably provided in an angle of less than 120° and preferably more than 80°. This assures that the cups can be denested easily.
The invention is now explained according to
The cup, according to the invention, furthermore comprises an outer side wall 4, which is also conical and which extends around the entire circumference of the outer circumference 3.1 of the inner side wall 3. The length L of the outer sidewall is preferably chosen such that it extends from the upper end 3.3 of the inner side wall, preferably from rim 8, until essentially the bottom 2 of the container 1. The outer sidewall comprises a multitude of embossed shapings (5), which each extend radially out of the outer surface (4.4) of the outer sidewall 4. Additionally, the shapings 5 each do not extend over the entire length L of the outer side wall. Particularly, the lower end 5.1 of the shaping 5 is distant from the lower end 4.1 of the outer side wall. Thus, the outer sidewall comprises at its lower end a flat ring, which extends around the entire circumference of the inner side wall 3. This ring is preferably used to connect, preferably glue and/or seal the outer sidewall 4 to the inner sidewall 3. The embossments 5 together with the outer circumferential surface of the inner sidewall 3 each define a channel 6, in which a gas, preferably air, is entrapped. These channels are closed, preferably hermetically closed. The gas inside the channels 6 is a heat/cold-insulation. According to the present invention, the lower end 5.1 of each embossment 5 serves as a stacking means, which cooperates with stacking means 7 of another container, when two containers are stacked. This assures that the stacked cups can be denested easily. Since the flat lower end 4.1 of the outer sidewall extends below the lower end 5.1 of each shaping 5, the lower end 4.1 is also a guidance for the cup during the stacking. The upper end 5.2 of each shaping is preferably also distant from the upper end 4.2. The flat ring of the outer sidewall can be attached to the inner sidewall.
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