BIODEGRADABLE SLEEVES FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION AND USE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/667,588 filed Jul. 3, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to sleeves capable of use with beverage containers, including but not limited to bottles and cans. The invention particularly relates to biodegradable sleeves that are recyclable, biodegradable, and effective to thermally insulate beverage containers and the contents thereof.

A variety of reusable and disposable devices are available that can be used as an insulator to reduce heat transfer to or from a beverage container and the contents thereof. Reusable sleeves that are not recyclable and/or biodegradable, as examples, polyurethane foam and neoprene foam, are commonly available for use with bottles and cans (e.g., aluminum cans). Corrugated cardboard sleeves adapted for use with disposable coffee cups are widely available, but such sleeves typically have a tapered shape and open at both their top and bottom ends for use with tapered cups, and are not adapted for use with beverage containers that have a cylindrical shape, such as bottles and cans. Coffee sleeves are also designed to protect the user from discomfort from heat, and therefore often do not cover the majority of the cup.

In view of the above, further improvements in sleeves suitable for use with beverage containers would be desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The intent of this section of the specification is to briefly indicate the nature and substance of the invention, as opposed to an exhaustive statement of all subject matter and aspects of the invention. Therefore, while this section identifies subject matter recited in the claims, additional subject matter and aspects relating to the invention are set forth in other sections of the specification, particularly the detailed description, as well as any drawings.

The present invention provides, but is not limited to, biodegradable sleeves that are suitable for reducing heat transfer to and from beverage containers and the contents thereof, as nonlimiting examples, bottles and cans, so as to maintain the contents at or near a desired temperature for an extended period of time.

According to a nonlimiting aspect, a biodegradable sleeve includes a sidewall and a base. The sidewall surrounds and defines a cavity of the biodegradable sleeve that extends along a longitudinal axis of the biodegradable sleeve, and surrounds and defines an opening at an upper end of the biodegradable sleeve. The cavity is adapted to receive a beverage container, the opening is adapted to receive the beverage container therethrough as the beverage container is being received into the cavity, and the sidewall is adapted to contact and surround the beverage container when received in the cavity. The sidewall defines inner sidewall surfaces of the biodegradable sleeve that face the cavity and outer sidewall surfaces of the biodegradable sleeve that face away from the cavity. The base is disposed at a lower end of the biodegradable sleeve and adjoins the sidewall at first and second bends. The base is adapted to contact and support the beverage container when received in the cavity, and defines an inner base surface of the biodegradable sleeve that faces the cavity and an outer base surface of the biodegradable sleeve that faces away from the cavity. The biodegradable sleeve further includes first and second sidewall portions and a base portion between and adjoining the first and second sidewall portions at the first and second bends, respectively. The first and second sidewall portions each have oppositely-disposed inner and outer surfaces that define the inner and outer sidewall surfaces of the biodegradable sleeve, oppositely disposed side edges, and oppositely-disposed upper and lower edges at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the biodegradable sleeve. The first and second sidewall portions define the sidewall of the biodegradable sleeve, and the base portion adjoins the lower edges of the first and second sidewall portions and defines the base of the biodegradable sleeve. At least a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots are disposed in at least the second sidewall portion adjacent the side edges thereof, and at least first and second tabs extend from the side edges of at least the first sidewall portion and are each received in a corresponding one of the first and second pairs of the slots. The first and second tabs extend from the side edges at an angle of greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the biodegradable sleeve. The first and second sidewall portions, the base portion, and the first and second tabs are formed by a single unitary cardboard material that has a planar surface that defines the outer sidewall surfaces and the outer base surface of the biodegradable sleeve and has an oppositely-disposed corrugated surface that defines the inner sidewall surfaces and the inner base surface of the biodegradable sleeve.

According to further aspects, a method is provided for construction the biodegradable sleeve described above from a blank of the single unitary cardboard material. The method includes bending the single unitary cardboard material at two regions thereof between the base portion and the first and second sidewall portions to form the first and second bends between the base and the sidewall, and inserting the first and second tabs into two of the first and second pairs of the slots so that the corrugated surface of the single unitary cardboard material defines the inner sidewall surfaces and the inner base surface of the biodegradable sleeve.

Technical effects of sleeves as described above preferably include their ability to provide a cost-effective solution for maintaining beverage containers of various sizes at or near a desired temperature, while also being disposable and more ecological due to being entirely constructed of a cardboard material that is preferably both recyclable and biodegradable. The sleeves also offer opportunities for customization on their exteriors with superior printability/customizability in comparison to sleeves constructed of polyurethane foam or neoprene foam.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a side view of a biodegradable sleeve with a beverage container placed therein.

FIGS. 2 through 5 represent, respectively, a perspective view, and side view, a top view, and a bottom view of the biodegradable sleeve in accordance with certain but nonlimiting embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 represents a partial cross-sectional view of a single unitary cardboard material used in the construction of the biodegradable sleeve of FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein the cardboard material as a planar surface and an oppositely-disposed corrugated surface.

FIG. 7 represents a plan view of a blank formed by die-cutting a single unitary cardboard material such as shown in FIG. 6, and from which the biodegradable sleeve of FIGS. 1 through 5 can be constructed.

FIG. 8 represents a detailed view showing the construction of the biodegradable sleeve of FIGS. 1 through 5 from the blank of FIG. 7 by inserting tabs into one of a plurality of slots formed in the blank.

FIG. 9 represents a plan view of another embodiment of a blank formed by die-cutting a single unitary cardboard material such as shown in FIG. 6, and from which a biodegradable sleeve can be constructed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The intended purpose of the following detailed description of the invention and the phraseology and terminology employed therein is to describe what is shown in the drawings, which include the depiction of and/or relate to one or more nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, and to describe certain but not all aspects of the embodiment(s) to which the drawings relate. The following detailed description also describes certain investigations relating to the embodiment(s) depicted in the drawings, and identifies certain but not all alternatives of the embodiment(s). As nonlimiting examples, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects shown and/or described as part of a particular embodiment could be eliminated, and also encompasses additional or alternative embodiments that combine two or more features or aspects shown and/or described as part of different embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims, and not the detailed description, are intended to recite what are believed to be aspects of the invention, including certain but not necessarily all of the aspects and alternatives described in the detailed description.

FIGS. 1 through 8 represent various views and aspects of a biodegradable sleeve 10 that is configured to surround and contain a beverage container for the purpose of keeping the container and its contents at a desired temperature for longer periods of time than would occur without the use of the biodegradable sleeve. FIG. 1 represents the sleeve 10 used in combination with a can (e.g., aluminum can) 100, though the sleeve 10 can also or alternatively be used in combination with other types of beverage containers, particularly cans and bottles that have a generally cylindrical shape (i.e., cylindrical cross-section) and other contains that have an untapered exterior shape (e.g., cross-sectional shapes other than cylindrical).

The biodegradable sleeve 10 is preferably entirely constructed of a cardboard material so as to be recyclable and biodegradable in its entirety, which as used herein means that the sleeve 10 can be recycled and/or legally and safely disposed of as solid waste in a landfill. Due to its construction entirely of cardboard, the sleeve 10 would be unusable if washed in a conventional automatic dishwasher.

To facilitate the description provided below of the embodiment of the sleeve 10 represented in the drawings, relative terms, including but not limited to, “proximal,” “distal,” “anterior,” “posterior,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “forward,” “rearward,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be used in reference to the orientation of the sleeve 10 during its use and/or as represented in the drawings. All such relative terms are useful to describe the illustrated embodiment but should not be otherwise interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

The biodegradable sleeve 10 is represented in FIG. 1 with a sidewall 12 thereof surrounding and contacting the can 100 and a base 14 thereof contacting and supporting the lower end of the can 100. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the sidewall 12 has a cylindrical shape and the base 14 has a circular shape, though other shapes are foreseeable. The sidewall 12 and base 14 are preferably formed by a single unitary cardboard material, such that the sidewall 12 and base 15 are contiguous and formed by bending the cardboard material. From FIGS. 2 through 5 it can be appreciated that the can 100 is received in a cavity 16 of the biodegradable sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 is adapted to reduce heat transfer to and from the can 100 and any contents thereof so as to maintain the contents at or near a desired temperature for an extended period of time. The sidewall 12 surrounds and defines the cavity 16, which extends along a longitudinal axis 18. The sidewall 12 defines the cavity 16 so as to be adapted (e.g., sized and shaped) to receive the can 100 or other similarly-shaped beverage container. The sidewall 12 also surrounds and defines an opening 20 of the sleeve 10 at an upper end of the sleeve 10, through which the can 100 is able to be received as the can 100 is being received into the cavity 16. The sidewall 12 defines inner sidewall surfaces 22 of the sleeve 10 that face the cavity 16 and contact and surround the can 100 when received in the cavity 16. The sidewall 12 also defines outer sidewall surfaces 24 of the sleeve 10 that face away from the cavity 16.

The base 14 is disposed at a lower end of the sleeve 10 and adjoins the sidewall 12 at first and second bends 40a and 40b that are formed by bending the cardboard material in two regions thereof between the sidewall 12 and base 14, as will be discussed in further detail below. The base 14 defines an inner base surface 26 of the sleeve 10 that faces the cavity 16 and an outer base surface 28 of the sleeve 10 that faces away from the cavity 16. Other than at the bends 40a and 40b, the base 14 is preferably not attached to the sidewall 12, and as a result the base 14 nearly but does not entirely close the cavity 16 at the lower end of the sleeve 10, resulting in gaps between the base 14 and sidewall 12 along and between the perimeter of the base 14 and the lower edge of the sidewall 12, in particular, circumferentially between the bends 40a and 40b that adjoin the base 14 and sidewall 12.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, FIG. 7 depicts a plan view of a blank 30 formed by die-cutting the single and unitary cardboard material from which the sleeve 10 of FIGS. 1 through 5 is constructed, and FIG. 6 represents a partial cross-section of an exemplary cardboard material from which the blank 30 can be die-cut. In FIG. 7, the outer sidewall surfaces 24 and outer base surface 28 of the sleeve 10 are visible. The blank 30 includes first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b and a base portion 34 between and adjoining the first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b at two regions 56a and 56b of the blank 30 that will form the first and second bends 40a and 40b. The blank 30 is configured so that the first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b will together define the sidewall 12 of the sleeve 10 and the base portion 34 will individually define the base 14 of the sleeve 10. The first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b each have oppositely-disposed inner and outer surfaces that define the inner and outer sidewall surfaces 22 and 24, respectively, of the sleeve 10, and the base portion 34 has oppositely-disposed inner and outer surfaces that define, respectively, the inner and outer base surfaces 26 and 28 of the sleeve 10. The first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b also each have oppositely disposed side edges 36a and 36b and oppositely-disposed upper and lower edges 38a and 38b that will be disposed at, respectively, the upper and lower ends of the sleeve 10. The base portion 34 adjoins the first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b at the two regions 56a and 56b, which are each located between the lower edges 38b of the first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b.

FIG. 7 depicts first and second pairs of slots 42a and 42b as disposed in the second sidewall portion 32b adjacent its side edges 36a and 36b, and first and second tabs 44a and 44b that extend from the side edges 36a and 36b of first sidewall portion 32a. Each pair of the slots 42a and 42b includes one slot that is closer to the side edge 36a or 36b than the other slot, and the tabs 44a and 44b of the first sidewall portion 32a are positioned, sized, and configured to be individually receivable in one of the corresponding slots 42a and 42b of the second sidewall portion 32b, as depicted in FIG. 8. As a result, the cross-sectional size of the sidewall 12 of the sleeve 10 can be adjusted by placing either or both tabs 44a and 44b in a slot that is either closer or farther from the side edge(s) 36a and/or 36b of the second sidewall portion 32b. This adjustability can be modified by die-cutting the blank 30 to create more slots in the second sidewall portion 32b and/or to reduce or increase the distances of the slots from the side edge(s) 36a and/or 36b of the second sidewall portion 32b.

As evident from FIG. 7, each of the tabs 44a and 44b extends from its corresponding side edge 36a or 36b of the first sidewall portion 32a at an angle. The side edges 36a and 36b are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 of the sleeve 10, and therefore the angle of the tabs 44a and 44b can be also described in reference to the axis 18. The angle is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis 18. Experimentation has shown that the angle is preferably in a range of 50 to 55 degrees, more preferably about 53 degrees to the axis 18.

As represented in FIG. 6, the single unitary cardboard material from which the blank 30 and its sidewall portions 32a and 32b, base portion 34, and tabs 44a and 44b are formed has a planar surface that is visible in FIG. 7 and defines the outer sidewall and base surfaces 24 and 28 of the sleeve 10. The planar surface of the blank 30 is preferably adapted to receive printing for decorative, branding, and advertising purposes. For example, detailed graphics can be easily printed on the planar surface of the blank 30 to enable the sleeve 10 to function as an advertising flier that contains marketing material. When the tabs 44a and 44b are secured in the slots 42a and 42b, the planar surface of the blank 30 is deformed to define the outer sidewall surfaces 24 of the sleeve 10 and acquire the roughly cylindrical shape thereof.

As more readily evident from FIG. 6, the side of the cardboard material opposite its planar surface has a corrugated surface that defines the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 of the sleeve 10. This corrugation at the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 defines periodic peaks 46 and valleys 48, with the valleys 48 being disposed between adjacent pairs of the peaks 46 such that gaps 50a are defined between the peaks 46 in the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 that face the cavity 16. As such, when received in the cavity 16 of the sleeve 10, the can 100 is contacted by the peaks 46 but not the valleys 48 of the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26. As such, the gaps 50a can be described as defining radially-extending air gaps at the perimeter of the cavity 16 that extend longitudinally along the inner sidewall surfaces 22 of the sidewall 12. The corrugation also defines air-filled cavities 50b between the planar surface at the outer sidewall and base surfaces 24 and 28 of the sleeve 10 and the peaks 46 at the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 of the sleeve 10. The air gaps 50a and air-filled cavities 50b promote the insulative effect of the sleeve 10, and the air gaps 50a also enable the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 of the sleeve 10 to wick up moisture and promote the evaporation of any condensation that may form on the can 100 and coalesce within the valleys 48 of the corrugated inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26. Additionally, promoting the evaporation of condensation further provides a cooling effect on the can 100 because the evaporation process draws heat from the can 100 and releases the heat to the surrounding environment.

In preferred embodiments of the sleeve 10, the corrugation of the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 of the sleeve 10 are sufficiently durable to withstand extended periods of time while in contact with a beverage container even if condensation is present on the exterior of the container. For this reason, the periodic peaks 46 and valleys 48 of the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 are preferably larger than commonly used with sleeves intended to be used in combination with coffee cups. A peak-to-peak amplitude of about 2.4 mm is believed to be preferred. A period of about 3.0 mm between peaks 46 has also been shown to promote the durability of the sleeve 10. Sleeves manufactured to have corrugation as described above have been demonstrated to be very durable and withstand six uses over the duration of a day while in contact with beverage containers containing cold beverages.

The blank 30 represented in FIG. 7 is further shown as having a diametrical crease line 52 that extends across the outer base surface 28 of the base portion 34 (and therefore also the base 14 defined thereby). This diametrical crease line 52 is parallel to the first and second bends 40a and 40b between the base 14 and the sidewall 12, and is intended as a fold line for reducing the size of the blank 30 during shipping and prior to construction the sleeve 10 from the blank 30. The blank 30 is also represented in FIG. 7 as having longitudinal crease lines 54 that extend longitudinally across the outer sidewall surfaces 24 of the sidewall portions 32b from each of the slots 42a and 42b and further extend to each of the upper and lower edges 38a and 38b of the sidewall portion 32b. These longitudinal crease lines 54 are each parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 of the sleeve 10 and are intended as fold lines to facilitate insertion of the tabs 44a and 44b into the slots 42a and 42b during construction the sleeve 10 from the blank 30. The crease lines 52 and 54 are preferably formed in only the planar outer sidewall and base surfaces 24 and 28 of the sleeve 10 and blank 30 to provide a visual indication as to their purpose to a user.

Construction of the biodegradable sleeve 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 from the single unitary cardboard material of the blank 30 shown in FIG. 7 can be quickly achieved by bending the blank 30 at the two regions 56a and 56b thereof between the base portion 34 and the first and second sidewall portions 32a and 32b to form the first and second bends 40a and 40b between the base 14 and sidewall 12, and then inserting the first and second tabs 44a and 44b into two of the first and second pairs of slots 42a and 42b so that the corrugated surface of the single unitary cardboard material defines the inner sidewall surfaces 22 and the inner base surface 26 of the sleeve 10. The inclusion of multiple slots 42a and 42b allows for beverage containers of various shapes, sizes, and diameters to be received in the cavity 16 of the sleeve 10 and promote contact between the container and the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26. The angle of the tabs 44a and 44b assist with positive retention of the tabs 44a and 44b within the slots 42a and 42b. Furthermore, the corrugated inner sidewall surface 22 of the sidewall portion 32a is also present on the tabs 44a and 44b, such that the corrugated surface of the blank 30 that defines the inner sidewall and base surfaces 22 and 26 of the sleeve 10 also defines surfaces of the tabs 44a and 44b, and the corrugated surface on the tabs 44a and 44b defines retention features that promote retention of the tabs 44a and 44b in the slots 42a and 42b. These aspects enable the sleeve 10 to be constructed without any requirement for the application of adhesives to secure the tabs 44a and 44b in the slots 42a and 42b for purposes of retaining the cylindrical shape of the sleeve 10.

Though corrugated cardboard sleeves have been successfully used with beverage containers for hot beverages, such as tapered coffee cups, the use of corrugated cardboard to insulate cylindrical-shaped bottles and cans that contain cold beverages is not intuitive because of the moist environment resulting from condensation forming on such containers. The adjustability of the diameter of the sleeve 10 through multiple available combinations of slots 42a and 42b and tabs 44a and 44b enables the sleeve 10 to be more tightly wrapped around a beverage container through slight compression of the corrugation peaks 46, thereby increasing friction to allow for more positive retention of the container.

Whereas the crease lines 52 and 54 are desirable for reasons set forth above, the sleeve 10 and the blank 30 from which it is constructed preferably lacks crease lines at other locations, particularly in the regions 56a and 56b of the blank 30 that form the first and second bends 40a and 40b between the base 14 and the sidewall 12 and where the tabs 44a and 44b adjoin the sidewall portion 32a, as crease lines in these locations are believed to weaken the strengths of the bends 40a and 40b and tabs 44a and 44b, resulting in a less durable sleeve 10.

As previously noted above, though the foregoing detailed description describes certain aspects of one or more particular embodiments of the invention, alternatives could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the sleeve 10 could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiment described herein and shown in the drawings, for example, as a result of constructing the sleeve 10 from a blank 30 configured as shown in FIG. 9. Alternatively or in addition, the blank 30 could be modified to have more slots 42a and 42b and tabs 44a and 44b of various configurations, slits could be utilized instead of slots, and various surface treatments could be applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve 10 to promote its moisture resistance. As such, and again as was previously noted, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to any particular embodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings.