Combination cup sleeve and plug assembly

Abstract

A Combination Cup Sleeve and Plug Assembly is disclosed. Also disclosed is a combination that includes an insulating sleeve for disposable beverage containers, as well as a detachable plug for the dispensing aperture formed in the lid of the container and a lanyard interconnecting the two. The sleeve is provided in a variety of durable, aesthetically pleasing, non-disposable forms. The plug is configured to be insertible into the dispensing aperture of the cup and should be made either from semi-precious or low cost materials, depending upon the target market. The plug further has a portion for displaying trademarks and/or identifying indicia thereon. The sleeve may further include a holder for retaining the plug therein when the plug is not in use for plugging the dispensing aperture. The lanyard is a detachable member made from cord, chain or other material that interconnects the plug and the sleeve. In an alternate embodiment, the plug is detachably clipped to the insulating sleeve. Also, the insulating sleeve is formed from a pair of juxtaposed sheets of material, an inner conducted thermal-energy suppressive member and an outer radiated thermal-energy reflective (i.e. suppressive) member. The inner surface of the outer member is likely to be made from a reflective material, while the outer surface of the outer member is likely to be a vinyl or other material to permit the imprinting of indicia thereon, and so that the indicia will be permanently and attractively affixed thereto.

1 . A sleeve and plug assembly, comprising: 
 a plug;    a plug pocket configured to accept said plug within a receptacle formed therein;    an insulating sleeve; and    a lanyard interconnecting said plug and said sleeve.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve forms a cup chamber defined at its ends by a top sleeve opening and a bottom sleeve opening.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said sleeve is defined by an outer sheath member and an inner sheath member, said outer and inner sheath members juxtaposed to one another.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said sleeve and said plug each further comprise attachment means for attaching said lanyard thereto.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said lanyard comprises a chain of links interconnected.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said sleeve is further defined by an inner sheath member is made from a material selected from a group of low thermal-conductivity or insulating materials.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said outer sheath member comprises an inner radiant-thermal-energy barrier layer and an outer display layer.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plug pocket assembly, said plug pocket assembly comprising said plug pocket and a sleeve-mounting clip extending therefrom.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said plug pocket defines an elongate, substantially cylindrical receptacle having a top opening that is configured to accept an end of said plug therein, and said clip has a thin elongate finger extending downwardly generally parallel to a wall of said cylindrical receptacle.  
   
   
       10 . An accessory for beverage containers, said containers defining a cylindrical cup having a slightly tapered shape and a lip defined by a dispensing aperture, comprising: 
 a plug;    a plug pocket assembly defining a plug pocket, said pocket configured to accept said plug within a receptacle formed therein;    an insulating sleeve, said plug pocket assembly detachably attachable to said insulating sleeve; and    a lanyard interconnecting said plug and said sleeve.    
   
   
       11 . The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein sleeve comprises a cup chamber having a top opening and a bottom opening, said cup chamber shaped to cooperate with said cup to fit thereover.  
   
   
       12 . The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein said plug is shaped to cooperate with said dispensing aperture whereby said plug is accepted partially within said dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       13 . The accessory of  claim 12 , wherein said dispensing aperture defines a generally rectangular shape having rounded corners, and said plug defines a cross section that cooperates with said aperture shape.  
   
   
       14 . The accessory of  claim 13 , wherein said insulating sleeve is formed from a pair of juxtaposed sheath members, each said sheath member defined by opposing ends and a plurality of slots formed therethrough adjacent to said opposing ends, said accessory further comprising: 
 a resilient fastener for interconnecting said opposing sheath member ends.    
   
   
       15 . The accessory of  claim 14 , wherein said resilient fastener comprises: 
 a bridge section;    at least one pair of opposing arms extending from opposing edges of said bridge section; and    wherein said fastener defines a front surface from which extend fabric hooks and said fastener further defines a rear surface from which extend fabric loops, said hooks and loops configured to releasibly attach to one another.    
   
   
       16 . The accessory of  claim 15 , comprising at least two said pairs of arms in spaced relation cooperative with spacing of said slots in said opposing ends of said sheaths, whereby said arms are insertible through said slots.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said display layer and said radiant-thermal-energy barrier layer are laminated into a single composite member.  
   
   
       18 . The accessory of  claim 14 , wherein said resilient fastener comprises: 
 a bridge section;    at least one pair of opposing arms extending from opposing edges of said bridge section; and    wherein said fastener defines a front surface and a rear surface and unisex fastener means for fastening to itself dispersed on said front and rear surfaces.