Packaging system for distrubuting and dispensing disposable cups and lids

Abstract

A packaging system suitable for distributing and dispensing disposable cups and lids includes a protective sleeve as well as a polymer envelope. The protective sleeve is configured to receive a nested stack of lids at its upper portion as well as a nested stack of cups at its lower portion. In one preferred embodiment a separator disk separates the two nested stacks and the cups are paperboard cups adapted for hot beverages by having foamed insulation on their outer surface. In another preferred embodiment, a pressure-sensitive adhesive mount is provided which can be removed from a mounting surface without leaving substantial pressure-sensitive adhesive residue on the surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaging system for distributing and dispensing disposable cups and lids comprising: 
 a) a protective sleeve defining an elongated cavity having at one end thereof a first dispensing aperture and at the other end thereof a second dispensing aperture;    b) a nested stack of disposable lids disposed in the elongated cavity of the protective sleeve adjacent the first dispensing aperture of the protective sleeve; and    c) a nested stack of disposable cups disposed in the elongated cavity of the protective sleeve adjacent the second dispensing aperture of the protective sleeve disposed such that the lower portion of the outermost cup of the stack protrudes through the second aperture.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a polymer film envelope secured about the protective sleeve adapted to retain the stack of lids and the stack of cups within the protective sleeve for distribution.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer film envelope further comprises a first tearable portion adjacent the first dispensing aperture and a second tearable portion adjacent the second dispensing aperture, the tearable portions being configured to allow for dispensing of the lids and cups from opposed portions of the protective sleeve upon rupture of the tearable portions adjacent the opposed apertures.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve is a cylindrical cardboard sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve is provided with a tear strip to facilitate dispensing.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer film envelope is a shrink wrap envelope.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the nested stack of lids comprises domed lids.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging system according to  claim 7 , wherein the domed lids are thermoformed lids.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the outermost cup protrudes through the polymer film envelope so as to be exposed to a consumer.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the nested stack of disposable stacks comprises paperboard cups.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging system according to  claim 10 , wherein the paperboard cups are provided with foamed polymer insulation on their outer surfaces.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging system according to  claim 11 , wherein the foamed insulation on the outer surface of the cups is formed in-situ by action of moisture present in the paperboard with polymer film applied to the paperboard.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging system according to  claim 11 , wherein the foamed polymer insulation is syntactic foam.  
     
     
         14 . The packaging system according to  claim 11 , wherein the foamed polymer insulation is applied in a pattern whereby the outer surface of the cup has portions with foamed polymer insulation and portions without foamed polymer insulation.  
     
     
         15 . A packaging system for distributing and dispensing disposable cups and lids comprising: 
 a) a protective sleeve defining an elongated cavity having at one end thereof a first dispensing aperture and at the other end thereof a second dispensing aperture;    b) a nested stack of disposable lids disposed in the elongated cavity of the protective sleeve adjacent the first dispensing aperture of the protective sleeve;    c) a nested stack of disposable cups disposed in the elongated cavity of the protective sleeve adjacent the second dispensing aperture of the protective sleeve disposed such that a lower portion of the outermost cup of the stack protrudes through the second aperture; and    d) a separator member disposed in the elongated cavity of the protective sleeve between the nested stack of disposable lids and the nested stack of disposable cups.    
     
     
         16 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a shrink wrap envelope secured about the protective sleeve adapted to retain the stack of lids and the stack of cups within the protective sleeve for distribution.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein the shrink wrap envelope further comprises a first tearable portion adjacent the first dispensing aperture and a second tearable portion adjacent the second dispensing aperture, the tearable portions being configured to allow for dispensing of the lids and the cups from opposed ends of the protective sleeve upon rupture of the tearable portions.  
     
     
         18 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein the protective sleeve is a cylindrical cardboard sleeve.  
     
     
         19 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein the protective sleeve is provided with a tear strip to facilitate dispensing.  
     
     
         20 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein the stack of nested lids comprises domed lids.  
     
     
         21 . The packaging system according to  claim 20 , wherein the domed lids are thermoformed lids.  
     
     
         22 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein the lower portion of the outermost cup protrudes through the shrink wrap envelope.  
     
     
         23 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein the nested stack of cups comprises paperboard cups.  
     
     
         24 . The packaging system according to  claim 23 , wherein the paperboard cups comprise paperboard cups provided with foamed polymer insulation on their outer surfaces.  
     
     
         25 . The packaging system according to  claim 24 , wherein the foamed insulation on the outer surface of the cups is formed in-situ by action of moisture present in the paperboard cups with polymer film applied to the paperboard.  
     
     
         26 . The packaging system according to  claim 24 , wherein the foamed polymer insulation is syntactic foam.  
     
     
         27 . The packaging system according to  claim 24 , wherein the foamed polymer insulation is applied in a pattern whereby the outer surface of the cup has portions with foamed polymer insulation and portions without foamed polymer insulation.  
     
     
         28 . In a packaging system including a plurality of cups and a plurality of lids therefore, the improvement comprising a protective sleeve disposed about the lids effective to reduce breakage thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The improvement according to  claim 28 , wherein the protective sleeve is a paperboard sleeve with die cut tabs.  
     
     
         30 . The improvement according to  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of cups, the plurality of lids and the protective sleeve are disposed in a polymer envelope.  
     
     
         31 . The improvement according to  claim 28 , wherein the polymer envelope is a shrink wrap envelope.  
     
     
         32 . The improvement according to  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of lids are thermoformed domed lids having a sidewall with an overall height which is at least about 10% of the lid diameter.  
     
     
         33 . The improvement according to  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of lids are thermoformed domed lids having a sidewall with an overall height of at least about 15% of the lid diameter.  
     
     
         34 . The improvement according to  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of lids are thermoformed domed lids having a sidewall with an overall height of at least about 20% of the lid diameter.  
     
     
         35 . A packaging system for distributing and dispensing disposable cups and lids comprising: 
 a) a protective sleeve defining an elongated cavity having at one end thereof a first dispensing aperture and at the other end thereof a second dispensing aperture;    b) a nested stack of disposable lids disposed in the elongated cavity of the protective sleeve adjacent the first dispensing aperture of the protective sleeve;    c) a nested stack of disposable cups disposed in the elongated cavity of the protective sleeve adjacent the second dispensing aperture of the protective sleeve disposed such that the lower portion of the outermost cup of the stack protrudes through the second aperture;    d) wherein the protective sleeve is provided with tab means for releasably retaining the cups within the sleeve;    e) a polymer envelope covering the lower portion of the outermost cup of the stack which protrudes through the second dispensing aperture; and    f) the protective sleeve being further provided with a mounting portion including a pressure-sensitive adhesive capable of securing the sleeve loaded with cups and lids to a vertical support and which mounting portion is removable from the vertical support without leaving a substantial amount of pressure-sensitive adhesive residue thereon.    
     
     
         36 . A packaging system for distributing and dispensing disposable cups comprising: 
 a) a protective sleeve defining an elongated cavity as well as a sleeve opening;    b) a nested stack of disposable cups disposed in the elongated cavity;    c) tab means about the sleeve opening configured to releasably retain the stack of nested cups within the sleeve; and    d) means for mounting the sleeve on a vertical support, including a pressure-sensitive adhesive capable of securing the sleeve loaded with cups to the vertical support and which mounting portion is removable from the vertical support without leaving a substantial amount of pressure-sensitive adhesive residue thereon.    
     
     
         37 . The packaging system according to  claim 36 , wherein the means for mounting the sleeve includes a polymeric tape having a lengthwise elongation at break of from about 50% to about 1200%.  
     
     
         38 . The packaging system according to  claim 37 , wherein the polymeric tape comprises a foam polymeric backing having a thickness of at least about 30 mils.  
     
     
         39 . The packaging system according to  claim 37 , wherein the tape has a Young's modulus of less than about 2400 psi.  
     
     
         40 . The packaging system according to  claim 37 , wherein the tape includes a polymeric backing material selected from polyethylene, including high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and linear ultra-low density polyethylene; polypropylene, and polybutylenes; polyvinyl chlorides, both plasticized and unplasticized; polyvinyl acetates; ethylene/methacrylate copolymers; ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers; and ethylene/propylene copolymers; acrylic polymers and copolymers; polyurethanes; and combinations of the foregoing.  
     
     
         41 . The packaging system according to  claim 37 , wherein the tape has a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied thereto selected from natural rubbers; olefins; silicones; polybutadeines; styrene-isoprene-styrense; styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrenes; styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers; and copolymers of isooctylacrylate and acrylic acid.  
     
     
         42 . The packaging system according to  claim 36 , wherein the tab means includes a plurality of tabs projecting inwardly from the sleeve wall to define a dispensing aperture.  
     
     
         43 . The packaging system according to  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of tabs includes tabs of different lengths.  
     
     
         44 . The packaging system according to  claim 42 , wherein the tabs are integrally formed with the protective sleeve.  
     
     
         45 . The packaging system according to  claim 42 , wherein the tabs are disposed on an annular support affixed to the protective sleeve.  
     
     
         46 . The packaging system according to  claim 36 , wherein the protective sleeve is a blow-molded protective sleeve.  
     
     
         47 . The packaging system according to  claim 36 , wherein the protective sleeve is a paperboard protective sleeve.