Thermal protective sleeve for a drinking cup

Abstract

An improved thermal protective sleeve is disclosed. The inventive sleeve is for use with drink cups including disposable drink cups for holding hot liquids. The inventive sleeve may be used in the conventional manner of thermal sleeves or it may be manipulated into a handle. The handle allows a user to hold a cup containing hot liquid in a manner that protects the user's hand in a situation where the liquid is so hot that holding the cup normally would be uncomfortable or dangerous.

1 . A beverage cup sleeve comprising:
 an elongated sheet of material formed into a ring by coupling together two opposing ends of the sheet, wherein the sheet is partially separable along a length of the sheet such that a first portion of the ring may be folded away from a second portion of the ring, wherein the second portion of the ring slides over and holds a cup and wherein the first portion of the ring may be used as a handle to hold second portion and the cup.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage cup sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated sheet is shaped such that when formed into the ring there is a narrow end of the ring and a wide end of the ring. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage cup sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein a point where the first portion of the ring and the second portion of the ring are connected is reinforced with a reinforced connector. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage cup sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material is corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage cup sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material is plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage cup sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the two ends of the sheet are coupled together using glue. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage cup sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is partially separable by tearing along a perforation.