FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cup, more particularly to a disposable cup. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Beverages are commonly sold in cans. It can often be disconcerting for the consumer to drink directly from the can as there is no way of determining how the can was previously handled and whether or not there are contaminants on the can. Coupled to this, the beverages are often not supplied cold and it is necessary to decant the beverage from the can into a cup containing ice. The further problem that arises is that of not knowing the source of the water used, how the ice was made or handled and consequently whether it is safe to consume.

Furthermore, where disposable cups are provided with canned beverages they are often inverted and the open end placed over the top of the can to facilitate carrying both. This leads to the further problem that any contaminants on the can are likely to be transferred to the interior of the cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a disposable cup comprising a tamper evident removable membrane secured over an open end thereof, the cup being partially filled with water and characterised in that it includes an inwardly extending socket in a bottom surface thereof which is shaped to receive an end of a beverage container therein. Further features of the invention provide for the socket to be cylindrical with a number of radially inwardly stepped shoulders provided therein; alternatively for the socket to be at least part conical. Still further features of the invention provide for the membrane to be sealed over the mouth of the cup; for that membrane to be made of a composite material; and for a grip to be provided on the membrane.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided for the cup to contain water; for the water to constitute not more than 30%, preferably less than 10%, of the volume of the container; and for the water to be purified.

Further features according to this aspect of the invention provides for the water to be frozen prior to vending of the cup; and for the cup to have resiliently deformable sides which permit the ice formed in the cup to be dislodged from the bottom thereof.

Still further features according to this aspect of the invention provide for the inwardly extending socket to be deformable by the end of the beverage container when received therein and for the ice to be at least partially dislodged from the container as a result of the deformation.

Yet further features according to this aspect of the invention provide for the cup to have a multitude of planar projections extending from a bottom surface of the cup and projecting past a level to which the cup would ordinarily be filled with water, and for the projections to prevent water from freezing in a continuous piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying representations in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cup according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a part-sectional elevation of a second embodiment of a cup according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a part-sectional elevation of a third embodiment of a cup according to the invention ; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an attachment module for use with a cup in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of a cup (1 ) according to the invention is shown in Figure 1 and is of conventional disposable configuration being made of a plastics material. A flat, radially extending rim (3) is provided about the mouth (5) of the cup. According to the invention, a membrane (7) is secured over the mouth (5) to hermetically seal the interior of the cup (1 ).

The membrane (7) is, in this embodiment, made of a composite material having layers of different materials selected to provide strength, resistance to tearing and the necessary sealing properties. Also in this embodiment, the membrane (7) is heat sealed to the rim (3) and provides evidence of tampering if even slightly dislodged from the rim (3).

A pull tab (9) extends from the periphery of the membrane (7) to assist in removal thereof from the cup (1 ). The cup (1 ) thus provides consumers with the assurance that the interior thereof is hygienic and free of any contaminants. In a preferred embodiment, the cup (1 ) is partially filled with water (not shown) which is frozen to form ice prior to vending. Purified water is used and thus the consumer has the advantage of being able to cool a beverage in the cup using ice known to be safe.

The water, and hence the ice, constitutes less than 30%, preferably between 3% and 10%, of the volume of the cup so that it is possible to empty the contents of a standard can or bottle into the cup. Thus, for a cup of 350ml, 1 5ml of water can be provided permitting a 330ml can to be emptied in to the cup. Alternately, for 500ml bottles or cans, a cup of 560ml can be provided containing 50ml of water. It will be appreciated that any suitable volume of cup and water can be used.

The use of a resiliently deformable plastics material in the manufacture of the cup is preferred as it permits the consumer to dislodge the ice from the bottom of the cup by pressing on the sides before or after emptying a beverage into the cup. This permits the ice to float in the beverage and to effect more effective cooling thereof then had it remained lodged in the bottom of the cup.

It will be appreciated that many other embodiments of a cup exist which fall within the scope of the invention particularly as regards the configuration of the cup and the membrane. For example, the membrane could be made of any suitable material including plastics or foil material and can be secured to the cup in any suitable manner.

As shown in Figure 2, in which like numerals indicate like features, an inwardly extending socket (20) can be provided in the bottom on the cup (1 ). In this embodiment the socket (20) is cylindrical with two radially inwardly stepped shoulders (22, 24) provided along its length to provide three regions of different, decreasing diameter. The opening to the socket (20) is sized to receive the end of a standard 330 ml beverage can (26), the region intermediate the shoulders (22, 24) sized to receive a small 200ml beverage can, and the end region sized to receive small diameter "energy drink" type cans. The socket further serves to facilitate dislodgement of the ice (30) in the cup as described above.

The socket can be shaped to provide a tight fit over the end of the can to facilitate carrying both the cup and can in one hand. The socket size will clearly be determined by the size of cans in general use in a specific country or region. Alternately, as shown in Figure 3, the socket (35) could have inwardly tapering sides providing a part conical shape which can receive the ends of a wide variety of beverage containers therein, from cans to bottles (37). Even though a snug fit is not achieved, the consumer can still more easily carry both in one hand by supporting the cup over the end of the container.

Figure 3 further shows the cup to have planar projections (39) extending from the bottom of the cup, and projecting upwards past the maximum level to which the cup is filled with water (30). The projections (39) prevent the water (30) from freezing into a single, continuous piece of ice but rather into a number of separate ice pieces. When a bottle (37) or can is inserted into the socket (35), it should be appreciated that the pressure on the socket may cause it to deform and in turn cause the projections (39) to detach from the ice. Instead of resulting in a single piece ice, the projections facilitate a number of smaller ice pieces to form. This increases the surface area of the ice inside the cup which, in turn, facilitates faster cooling of the beverage. The increased surface area also increases the rate at which the ice will melt, which may be desired.

It should be noted that the projections (39) may be of any shape, size or configuration to ensure pieces of ice that are of corresponding shapes and sizes as desired. It is, for example, foreseen that the projections (39) may be shaped to form ice pieces into novelty shapes. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the projections may be configured into a honeycomb formation. It should be noted that the projections may be introduced to any cup in accordance with the invention, including the cups of Figures 1 and 2.

A further feature of the invention is shown Figure 4. A module (41 ) is shown which is intended for use with the cup (1 ). The outer surface (43) of the module is shaped to correspond to the socket (20) in the bottom surface of the cup (1 ) and so as to facilitate a snug fit therein. The module (41 ) is hollow and may be filled with a potable liquid, for example, a flavoured concentrate, liquor or any other additive that may be mixed with another liquid in the cup (1 ). The module (41 ) may also have a second socket (43) of different dimensions to the socket (20) in the cup (1 ), which may still be shaped to receive an end of a beverage container, albeit one of a smaller dimension.

The module (41 ) may be manufactured from a frangible plastics material allowing it to be punctured by a user and the liquid therein to be emptied into the cup (1 ) and mixed with a beverage of the user's choice or consumed as is. Alternatively, the module may be provided with a tear-way strip or zone of weakness at which it may be opened. It should be appreciated that a consumer may be provided with a cup ( 1 ) in accordance with the invention, a module (41 ) containing a liquor of his or her choice, and a beverage of his or her choice at the time of vending. The module (41 ) may be inserted into the socket (20) and an end of the beverage container into the second socket in the module, thereby again facilitating carrying the cup (1 ), the module (41 ) and beverage container in one hand. The module (41 ) may also be configured to attach to the inside of the socket (20) by means of suitable attachment formations.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other embodiments of a cup exist which fall within the scope of the invention. It should also be apparent that the cup may be manufactured by any suitable processes such as, for example, injection moulding.