Beverage package cup

Claim 2

A beverage package cup comprising: a disposable drinking cup body having upper and lower portions of frusto-conical shape, and an outwardly directed annular flange disposed between and connecting said upper and lower portions, said lower portion including a base and an upwardly-divergent side wall, said annular flange being inclined upwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion and defining an annular upper edge with said lower portion, and said upper portion including an upwardly-divergent side wall; a dry beverage ingredient disposed in said lower portion of the cup body; and, a removable cap hermetically sealing the beverage ingredient in said lower portion of the cup body, the cap comprising: a closure portion which is flexible and at least substantially impervious to moisture, and having its peripheral margin hermetically sealed to said annular flange of the cup body and extending across said lower portion of the cup so as to protect the beverage ingredient from deterioration due to contact with ambient air and moisture; and a pull-tab accessible from within the said upper portion of the cup body and arranged so that the cap can be detached from said annular flange by pulling on said tab; said lower portion of the cup body additionally including a plurality of inwardly directed lugs disposed at spaced positions around the side wall of the lower cup body portion and each defining an upper end face disposed generally even with said annular upper edge of said lower portion and immediately below said cap so that, when a second similar cap is stacked inside the first, said lugs support the second cup through the intermediary of said cap and thereby prevent excessive inward displacement of the second cup and penetration of the hermetic seal by dislodgement of the sealing cap.

Claim 3

A cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap includes a layer of a plastic material disposed at an inner side of the cap and hermetically sealed to said annular flange of the cup body by a heat seal formed between said plastic layer and said annular flange.

Claim 4

A cup as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sealing cap is of laminated form comprising said inner layer of said plastic material; an intermediate layer of aluminum foil; and an outer layer of paper, said layers being relatively thin whereby the cap has a flexible, non-rigid form.

Claim 5

A cup as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inner plastic layer of the sealing cap is a film of polyethylene and wherein said cup is made of a polystyrene material.

Claim 6

A beverage package cup comprising: a disposable plastic drinking cup body having upper and lower portions of frusto-conical shape, and an outwardly directed annular flange disposed between and connecting said upper and lower portions, said lower portion including a base and an upwardly-divergent side wall, said annular flange being inclined upwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion and defining an annular upper edge with said lower portion, and said upper portion including an upwardly-divergent side wall; a dry beverage ingredient disposed in said lower portion of the cup body; and, a removable cap hermetically sealing the beverage ingredient in said lower portion of the cup, the cap being in the form of a laminated structure having an inner layer of a polyethylene plastic material; an intermediate layer of aluminum foil; and an outer paper layer, said layers being relatively thin, whereby the cap is flexible and non-rigid; and the cap comprising: a closure portion having its peripheral margin heat sealed to said annular flange of the cup body and extending across said lower portion of the cup so as to protect the beverage ingredient from deterioration due to contact with ambient air and moisture; and a pull-tab accessible from within said upper portion of the cup body and arranged so that the cap can be detached from said annular flange by pulling on said tab; said lower portion of the cup body additionally including a plurality of inwardly-directed lugs disposed at spaced positions around the side wall of the lower cup body portion and each defining an upper end face disposed generally even with said annular upper edge of said lower portion and immediately below said cap so that, when a second similar cup is stacked inside the first, said lugs support the second cup through the intermediary of the cap and thereby prevent excessive inward displacement of the second cup and penetration of the hermetic seal by dislodgement of the sealing cap.

Claim 7

A beverage package cup comprising: a disposable plastic drinking cup body having upper and lower portions of frusto-conical shape, and an outwardly directed annular flange disposed between and connecting said upper and lower portions, said lower portion including a base and an upwardly-divergent side wall, said annular flange being inclined upwardly from said lower portion to said upper portion and defining an annular upper edge with said lower portion, and said upper portion including an upwardly-divergent side wall; a dry beverage ingredient disposed in said lower portion of the cup body; and, a removable cap hermetically sealing the beverage ingredient in said lower portion of the cup, the cap being in the form of a laminated structure having an inner layer of a polyethylene plastic material; an intermediate layer of aluminum foil; and an outer paper layer, said layers being relatively thin, whereby the cap is flexible and non-rigid; and the cap comprising: a closure portion having its peripheral margin heat sealed to said annular flange of the cup body and extending across said lower portion of the cup so as to protect the beverage ingredient from deterioration due to contact with ambient air and moisture; and a pull-tab accessible from within said upper portion of the cup body and arranged so that the cap can be detached from said annular flange by pulling on said tab; said lower portion of the cup body additionally including a plurality of inwardly-directed lugs disposed at spaced positions around the side wall of the lower cup body portion and each defining an upper end face disposed generally even with said annular upper edge of said lower portion and immediately below said cap so that, when a second similar cup is stacked inside the first, said lugs support the second cup through the intermediary of the cap and thereby prevent excessive inward displacement of the second cup and penetration of the hermetic seal by dislodgement of the sealing cap.