cup

Abstract

We provide cups that allow you to drink elegantly without getting your mouth dirty. [Solution] The cup 1 comprises a bottom portion 2, a side wall portion 3 erected upward from the periphery of the bottom portion, an upper end opening 4 formed by the side wall portion, and a handle portion 5 provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion. The side wall portion has a substantially rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape, at least in the upper region including the upper end opening, having four corners C1 to C4 and four sides S1 to S4 connecting these corners. The handle portion is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of any one of the four corners. As a result, when the handle portion is grasped, the adjacent corner functions as a drinking spout, making it possible to narrow the flow of the beverage for drinking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cup used for drinking beverages such as coffee and tea, and particularly relates to the shape of the upper opening and the arrangement of the handle portion.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of cup, a cup having a generally bottomed cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 4 has been widely popular. The cup 100 has a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape of the side wall portion 103 and the upper opening portion 104, and a C-shaped or ear-shaped handle portion (grip) 105 is provided on the outer surface of the generally cylindrical side wall portion 103.

[0003] When drinking with the conventional cup 100, the user puts the mouth on the edge at a position shifted by about 90 degrees from the position where the handle portion 105 is provided and tilts the cup. At this time, since the edge of the cup has an arc shape with a certain radius of curvature, when the cup is tilted, the beverage flows into the user's mouth while spreading horizontally along the curve of the edge.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a case, in the cup 100 with a large radius of curvature as shown in FIG. 4, since the flow width of the beverage at the drinking mouth tends to be wide, when the cup is tilted vigorously or when the amount of the beverage in the cup is large, etc., the beverage may come into contact with and wet the left and right ends of the upper lip and the surrounding area (so-called near the corners of the mouth).

[0005] Such widespread wetting around the mouth not only gives an unpleasant feeling, but particularly for users wearing lipstick, it may cause makeup smudging, or in order to catch the beverage with the mouth so as not to spill it, the mouth may appear to be wide open during drinking, making it difficult to drink elegantly.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a cup that suppresses the wide lateral spread of the beverage flow at the drinking spout when drinking, allowing for elegant drinking without soiling the area around the mouth or having to open the mouth wide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention of claim 1 of the present application is a cup comprising a bottom portion, a side wall portion erected upward from the periphery of the bottom portion, an upper end opening formed by the side wall portion, and a handle portion provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion, wherein the side wall portion has a substantially rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape having four corners and four sides connecting these corners in at least the upper region including the upper end opening, and the handle portion is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of any one of the four corners.

[0008] The invention of claim 2 of this application is characterized in that the four corners are each formed in a curved shape that bulges outward.

[0009] The invention of claim 3 of this application is characterized in that, among the four corners, the two corners adjacent to the corner on which the handle portion is provided have different radii of curvature that form each corner.

[0010] The invention of claim 4 of this application is characterized in that the four edges are each curved outward or inward, and the horizontal cross-sectional shape as a whole is quince-shaped or petal-shaped.

[0011] The invention of claim 5 of the present application is characterized in that the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the side wall portion gradually changes from the substantially rectangular shape to a circular or elliptical shape as it extends downward from the upper end opening, and the horizontal cross-sectional shape at the bottom portion is substantially circular or substantially elliptical. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the configuration of the present invention, when a user grasps the handle and lifts the cup, the corner where the handle is located and the adjacent corner naturally face the user's mouth. These corners have a smaller radius of curvature than the rim of a conventional circular cup, and are pointed or curved in a narrow area. As a result, when the cup is tilted, the beverage does not spread sideways but concentrates and flows as if guided by the sloping surfaces on both sides. This eliminates the need for the user to widen their mouth and allows them to drink without wetting the area around their mouth. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] A plan view of a cup according to one embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the upper opening side, together with a dedicated saucer. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the cup placed on a saucer. [Figure 3] A plan view of a modified version of the above embodiment, including a saucer, as seen from the upper opening side. [Figure 4] A perspective view showing a conventional circular cup in horizontal cross-section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, a cup, which is one embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show a cup 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cup 1 is a liquid container made of ceramics, glass, synthetic resin, or metal, and comprises a bottom portion 2, a generally cylindrical side wall portion 3 that is erected upward from the periphery of the bottom portion 2, and a handle portion 5 provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion 3.

[0015] The side wall portion 3 is formed so that its cross-sectional area gradually increases from the lower end (the connection point with the bottom portion 2) to the upper end, and an upper opening 4 for pouring beverages is formed at the upper end. As shown in Figure 1, the side wall portion 3 has a roughly rectangular (roughly square) horizontal cross-sectional shape, at least near the upper opening 4 that the user's mouth touches. This horizontal cross-sectional shape is composed of four corners C1, C2, C3, and C4 (1st to 4th), and four sides S1, S2, S3, and S4 connecting these corners.

[0016] The four sides S1 to S4 each form a curved shape that bulges outward. Furthermore, the four corners C1 to C4 are not acute angles, but rather smooth, curved surfaces that bulge outward, forming a rounded (R-shaped) form. As a result, the overall planar shape of cup 1 is what is known as a mokkou (quince flower) or cushion shape, combining a soft aesthetic with ease of use. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the radii of curvature of the four corners C1 to C4 are all formed to be approximately uniform (of the same size).

[0017] The dimensions of each part of cup 1 are set as follows, taking into consideration ease of gripping and stability. Specifically, the shape of the base 2 is a roughly square with sides of approximately 6.5 cm, and the shape of the upper opening 4 is a roughly square with sides of approximately 7 cm. Furthermore, an important feature of this invention is that the height dimension of cup 1 (vertical distance from base 2 to upper opening 4) is relatively low compared to the horizontal dimension, specifically set at approximately 5 cm. As a result, cup 1 as a whole has a stable, squat shape (low center of gravity).

[0018] The handle portion 5 is provided so as to protrude outward in a horizontal direction to the right from the outer surface of one of the four corners (the rightmost corner C1 in Figure 1 in this embodiment). The handle portion 5 is formed in a shape that makes it easy for the user to grip it by placing their fingers on it (for example, U-shaped, C-shaped, or ear-shaped). The cup 1 can be used while placed on a roughly square saucer (cup holder) 6 that matches its shape. The length of one side of the saucer 6 is set to be about twice the length of one side of the bottom 2 of the cup 1 (about 13 cm), giving it a stable and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Like the cup 1, the saucer 6 has four sides that curve outward, and the four corners are not sharp angles, but rather smooth arcs that bulge outward.

[0019] The following describes how the cup 1 works when a user drinks from it. When the user grasps the handle 5 with one hand and lifts the cup, the corner C2 or C4, which is at a 90-degree angle to the corner C1 on which the handle 5 is located, naturally faces the user's mouth. These corners have a smaller radius of curvature compared to the sides S1, etc., and have a narrow, protruding shape. Therefore, when the user puts their mouth to the corner C2 or C4 and tilts the cup, the beverage inside is guided along the inner surface of the narrow corner C2 or C4, and flows out in a narrow, focused stream without becoming wide. As a result, the user can drink smoothly and elegantly without having to widen their mouth, preventing spills around the mouth and preventing dripping from the corners of the mouth.

[0020] (Modified version of the above embodiment) A modified example of the above embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 3. Cup 1' in Figure 3 has the same basic configuration as cup 1 in the above embodiment, but the setting of the radius of curvature of the corners is different. Specifically, in the two corners C2 (upper in the figure) and C4 (lower in the figure) adjacent to corner C1 on which the handle portion 5 is provided, the radii of curvature forming each corner are formed to be different from those of the other.

[0021] In the cup 1´, the radius of curvature of one corner C2 is set to be relatively small (sharp), and the radius of curvature of the other corner C4 is set to be relatively large (gentle). Thereby, it is possible to select the shape of the drinking mouth according to the user's preference and the type of beverage. For example, when the user holds the handle portion 5 with the right hand, the corner C4 with a large radius of curvature is directed towards the mouth, so that the user can drink slowly with a relatively wide water flow. Conversely, when the user holds the handle portion 5 with the left hand, the corner C2 with a small radius of curvature is naturally directed towards the mouth, so that the user can drink little by little with a thin water flow.

[0022] As described above, according to the cup 1´ of the above modification example, by changing the holding of the handle portion 5 between the left and right hands, it is possible to select the fitting feeling of the drinking mouth and the flow rate feeling of the beverage according to the user's preference, and a more functional cup can be provided.

[0023] Also, in the above embodiment, the case where the four side portions S1 to S4 bulge outward and the horizontal cross-sectional shape is papaya-shaped has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Although illustration is omitted, as another modification example, a shape in which the four side portions S1 to S4 are each curved inward may be adopted. Thereby, since the horizontal cross-sectional shape is a whole petal shape or a cross shape, the variations of the appearance design can be expanded. Even in the case where the side portion is curved inward like this, since the four corner portions C1 to C4 are in a state of protruding relatively outward, by using the corner portion as a drinking mouth as in the above embodiment, the effect of suppressing the lateral spread of the beverage can be achieved.

[0024] Furthermore, various configurations can be adopted for the shape change of the side wall portion 3 in the vertical direction. For example, at the upper end opening portion 4, while maintaining the substantially rectangular shape (papaya shape or petal shape) described above, the horizontal cross-sectional shape may be gradually changed from a substantially rectangular shape to a circular shape or an elliptical shape as it goes from there to the bottom portion 2 below.

[0025] With this configuration, the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the base 2 will be approximately circular or elliptical. This enhances the stability of the cup 1 when placed on it, and also offers manufacturing advantages such as making it easier to apply conventional manufacturing techniques, such as pottery wheel forming, to the base. Furthermore, the fusion of the angular impression of the upper part and the rounded impression of the lower part results in an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit. For example, the material and size of the cup, the specific shape of the handle, etc., can be appropriately changed depending on the application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 cup 1' cup (variant) 2 bottom 3. Side wall section 4 Top opening 5 Handle 6 saucers C1, C2, C3, C4 corners S1, S2, S3, S4 sides 100 conventional cups 103 Side wall section 104 Top opening 105 Handle

Claims

1. A cup comprising a bottom, a side wall portion erected upward from the periphery of the bottom, an upper end opening formed by the side wall portion, and a handle portion provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion, The side wall portion, at least in the upper region including the upper end opening, has a substantially rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape having four corners and four sides connecting these corners. The cup is characterized in that the handle portion is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of any one of the four corner portions.

2. The cup according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the four corners is formed in a curved shape that bulges outward.

3. The cup according to claim 2, characterized in that, of the four corners, the two corners adjacent to the corner on which the handle is provided have different radii of curvature that form each corner.

4. The cup according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the four edges is curved outward or inward, and the horizontal cross-sectional shape as a whole is quince-shaped or petal-shaped.

5. The cup according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the side wall portion gradually changes from the approximately rectangular shape to a circular or elliptical shape as it extends downward from the upper end opening, and the horizontal cross-sectional shape at the bottom portion is approximately circular or approximately elliptical.

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