Collapsible cup.

Application filed February 12, 1912. Serial No. 677,167.

To dll whom it may concern :

Be it known that I, Lewis R. Smith, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Rome, county of Floyd, State of. Georgia, δ have invented certain new and usetul improvements in Collapsible Cups; and I do hereby declare the following to be a lull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the ait 10 to which it appertains to make and use the same. ...

This invention relates to certain improve ments in collapsible drinking cups; and the objects and nature of the invention will be 15 readily understood by those skilled m the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanving drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred em- •bodiment-from among other formations and 20 arrangements within the spirit and scope of my invention. . .

The invention. consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particu25 larly described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:—Figure 1, is a perspective view of the cup distended. Fig. 2, is a vertical section ' thereof. Fig. 3. is-'a view showing the cup 30 collapsed. Fig. 4, is a view showing the same partially collapsed.

The cup is formed with a wall or body 1, composed of any suitable flexible or foldable water proof materials Paper paraffined or 35 otherwise treated to render the same waterproof, water proof fabric, rubber, and i arious other materials might be employed to form the wall of the cup.

The cup is provided with an annular top 40 stiff rim or ring 10, formed in any suitable manner and by any suitable material. lhis stiffening rim can be formed by rolling, folding or doubling the top edge of the material of the wall 1, and stiffening the same oy -5 paraffin or other material, or said rim can be formed by a separate stiff ring around which the flexible material of the wall can be suitably secured. The bottom of the cup is also provided with a stiffening ring or 50 head to which the flexible material of the wall is suitably secured to form a water tight joint. For instance, I show a stilt bottom head 11, to which the material of the wall is secured or clamped. I he closed bot55 tom of the cup is preferably of reduced diameter with respect to the top' rini of the cup, so that when the cup is collapsed the wall 1, can fold on the bottom and within the rim into a small flat shape occupying so little space that .the collapsed cup can be go easily carried on the person or in a pocket book, hand bag or the like.

The flexible material of the wall is preferably formed with vertical and diagonal fold lines a, so that the cup will collapse 65 and expand with a partial rotary or twisting movement, and whereby the Avail of the cup when collapsed will be twisted so as to fold flat and evenly on the bottom wall and within the rim. ; . 70

The cup is readily distended by graspingthe rim and bottom and separating the same with, a twisting motion. The cup. can . then be held by the rim and filled with liquid for drinking purposes. To prevent the cup 75 from collapsing or partially collapsing, when inclined to the mouth during the drinking operation and thus causing the liquid to spill over or flood the drinker, I provide a finger ring or hold 2, at the ex- 80 terior of the lower end or bottom of the cup. This ring or finger hold is loose or pivoted so that it can fold or swing to the cup bottom to rest flat thereagainst when the cup is collapsed. I show'the ring 2, loosely piv- 85 oted to the center of-the cup bottom by eye or· fastening 20, and depending loosely from the cup bottom to receive the little finger of the hand holding the cup for the purpose of maintaining the cup distended during the 90 drinking operation. When the cup is used for drinking purposes, the thumb and forefinger can grasp the top stiff rim of the cup and thus support the same while the liquid in the cup will ordinarily hold the cup dis- .95 tended when held in the vertical position. The little finger inserted in said, ring or other finger hold at the bottom of the cup will firmly hold the cup stretched'and distended in the desired straight longitudinal 100 line when the cup is tilted from the vertical position.

It is evident that various changes, variations and modifications might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and 105 scope of mv invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosure hereof.