Cup holder

Abstract

A cup holder comprising a body having a top opening and a bottom opening adapted to substantially encircle an outer surface of a cup, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of folding features capable of folding portions of the body at the folding features, wherein the folded features create primary air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup when the cup holder is coupled to the cup. The air passageways reduce heat transfer from the cup to the outer surface of the body. In one embodiment, at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body. In another embodiment, the material thickness at the folding feature is less than the material thickness of the body. Preferably, a plurality of polygonal indentations are configured in the body.

1 . A cup holder comprising: 
 a. a body having a top opening and a bottom opening adapted to substantially encircle an outer surface of a cup, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface, and    b. a plurality of folding features capable of folding portions of the body at the folding features, wherein the folded features create primary air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup when the cup holder is fully coupled to the cup.    
   
   
       2 . The cup holder according to  claim 1  wherein the body forms at least four distinct sides in the outer surface when coupled to the cup.  
   
   
       3 . The cup holder according to  claim 1  wherein the air passageways reduce heat transfer from the cup to the outer surface of the body.  
   
   
       4 . The cup holder according to  claim 1  wherein at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body.  
   
   
       5 . The cup holder according to  claim 1  wherein at least one folding feature is perforated into the body.  
   
   
       6 . The cup holder according to  claim 1  wherein the body has a first material thickness, the body having a second material thickness at the folding features, wherein the second material thickness is less than the first material thickness.  
   
   
       7 . The cup holder according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the inner surface of the body.  
   
   
       8 . The cup holder according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the outer surface of the body.  
   
   
       9 . A cup holder adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a cup comprising: a body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the body having a plurality of folding features configured to form a plurality of primary air passageways between the interior surface and the outer surface when the cup holder is fully coupled to the cup, wherein the primary air passageways reduce heat transfer from the cup to the exterior surface.  
   
   
       10 . The cup holder according to  claim 9  an exterior surface having a plurality of first grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending between a top edge and a bottom edge of the body, the first grooves each having a substantially constant depth dimension and characterized as having a corresponding first protrusion along the interior surface.  
   
   
       11 . The cup holder according to  claim 10  wherein the interior surface further comprises a plurality of second grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge, the second grooves located adjacent to the first grooves and having a substantially constant depth dimension, the second grooves each characterized as having a corresponding second protrusion along the exterior surface.  
   
   
       12 . The cup holder according to  claim 9  further comprising at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body between the two perforated lines is removable at the perforated lines.  
   
   
       13 . The cup holder according to  claim 9  wherein at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body.  
   
   
       14 . The cup holder according to  claim 9  wherein at least one folding feature is perforated into the body.  
   
   
       15 . The cup holder according to  claim 9  wherein the body has a first material thickness, the body having a second material thickness at the folding features, wherein the second material thickness is less than the first material thickness.  
   
   
       16 . The cup holder according to  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the interior surface of the body.  
   
   
       17 . The cup holder according to  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the exterior surface of the body  
   
   
       18 . A cup holder adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a cup comprising: 
 a. a body having a top edge and a bottom edge;    b. an exterior surface; and    c. an interior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the cup, wherein the body is configured to have a plurality of folding features such that the body is capable of folding at the folding features to form at least four outer surfaces when fully coupled to the cup.    
   
   
       19 . The cup holder according to  claim 18  having a plurality of interior surface grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge.  
   
   
       20 . The cup holder according to  claim 19  wherein the outer surface further comprises a plurality of outer surface grooves aligned parallel to each other and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge, the outer surface grooves located adjacent to the inner surface grooves, the outer surface grooves characterized as corresponding inner surface protrusions, wherein at least some of the inner surface protrusions are in contact with the outer surface of the cup.  
   
   
       21 . The cup holder according to  claim 18  further comprising at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body between the two perforated lines is removable at the perforated lines.  
   
   
       22 . The cup holder according to  claim 18  wherein at least one folding feature is a line scored into the body.  
   
   
       23 . The cup holder according to  claim 18  wherein at least one folding feature is perforated into the body.  
   
   
       24 . The cup holder according to  claim 18  wherein the body has a first material thickness, the body having a second material thickness at the folding features, wherein the second material thickness is less than the first material thickness.  
   
   
       25 . The cup holder according to  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the interior surface of the body.  
   
   
       26 . The cup holder according to  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of polygonal indentations in the exterior surface of the body.  
   
   
       27 . A method of forming a cup holder adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a cup comprising: 
 a. providing a body having a top opening and a bottom opening adapted to substantially encircle an outer surface of a cup, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface, and    b. forming a plurality of folding features in the body, each folding feature capable of folding portions of the body at the folding features, wherein the folded features adapted to create primary air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup when fully coupled to the cup.