Insulated beverage or food container

Abstract

An insulating beverage cup or sleeve is produced with a foam layer disposed on an inner surface of a food or beverage paper stock. A polyethylene film layer is arranged in a position between a paper stock layer and an inside surface of the beverage container. The foam layer decreases the energy transfer between the beverage and the user's hands allowing the user to hold onto the cup for an extended period of time without causing user discomfort or pain, e.g. greatly extends the hold time of the paper cup. The exterior surface of the beverage cup remains highly printable and predisposed to high quality graphics both before and after cup manufacture.

1 . An insulated beverage container stock material comprising: 
 a paper stock layer; and    a foam layer disposed along an interior surface of the paper stock layer.    
     
     
         2 . The insulated beverage container stock material according to  claim 1 , wherein said polyethylene film layer is sandwiched between said paper stock layer and said foam layer.  
     
     
         3 . The insulated beverage container stock material according to  claim 1 , wherein said foam layer is laminated foam formed from high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or oriented polypropylene.  
     
     
         4 . The insulated beverage container stock material according to  claim 3 , wherein said foam layer is adhered to said paper stock layer by melt extrusion, lamination or foam extrusion.  
     
     
         5 . A method of producing an insulated beverage container, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a paper cupstock having a container wall for surrounding a beverage containing space, a bottom portion, and a paper stock layer arranged along an exterior surface of said container wall;    foaming a polymer into a foam layer by mixing a blowing agent into the polymer prior to foaming; and    adhering the foam layer to the paper cupstock.    
     
     
         6 . The method of producing an insulated beverage container according to  claim 5 , wherein said foam layer is formed on an inside surface of said paperstock, said method further comprising the step of: 
 applying a polyethylene film layer in a position interposed between said foam layer and said paper stock layer.    
     
     
         7 . The method of producing an insulated beverage container according to  claim 5 , further comprising the step of: 
 applying a thermal insulating coating in a position interposed between said foam layer and said paper stock layer.    
     
     
         8 . The method of producing an insulated beverage container according to  claim 5 , wherein said foam layer is formed on an inside surface of said paperstock, said method further comprising the step of: 
 applying a polyethylene film layer in a position sandwiching said foam layer between said film layer and said paper stock layer.    
     
     
         9 . The method of producing an insulated beverage container according to  claim 5 , wherein said foam layer is laminated, melted or extruded foam formed from high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or oriented polypropylene.  
     
     
         10 . The method of producing an insulated beverage container according to claim  14 , wherein said film layer is laminated, melted or extruded foam formed from high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or oriented polypropylene.  
     
     
         11 . An insulated beverage container sleeve comprising: 
 a paper stock layer; and    a foam layer disposed along an interior surface of the paper stock layer, wherein said foam layer is laminated or extruded foam formed from high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or oriented polypropylene and is adhered to said paper stock layer by melt extrusion, lamination or foam extrusion.    
     
     
         12 . The insulated beverage container sleeve according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 an intermediate layer sandwiched between said foam layer and said paper stock layer; and    a printing layer, said printing layer forming a first exterior surface of said beverage container sleeve and said foam layer forming a second exterior surface of said beverage container sleeve, wherein said printing layer is made from a material having high quality graphics printability or having a textured surface.