Rigid Shell Container with Removable Silicone Liner

The problem

Cups and food containers are usually one material: plastic that scratches and stains, glass that breaks, or silicone that is floppy. Cleaning corners and lids is hard, and every new shape or color means a whole new product. The patent separates the two jobs - structure and contact with the contents - into two layers.

The solution

The container is built from:

1. A rigid outer shell (101) with a bottom and side wall. It can be at least partly transparent.
2. A flexible liner (102), for example silicone rubber, that sits inside the shell and holds liquid without leaking.
3. The top of the liner is detachably connected to the shell: a flange on the liner rests on an inward mounting ledge in the shell, with a bent edge in a groove.
4. Between shell wall and liner wall there is a gap over at least part of the height; the liner’s outer shape can be different from the shell’s inner shape (for example, wavy).
5. The liner’s bottom rests on the shell’s bottom, and studs on the liner snap through holes in the shell base. The studs and holes can be letters or patterns.
6. A press ring (103) or a lid clamps the liner top and seals it.

Who it is for

• Drinkware and food-storage brands looking for a modular, easy-clean range.
• Baby and kids’ tableware brands - soft silicone contact surfaces with a sturdy shell.
• Promotional and gift suppliers - logos molded through the base.
• Packaging buyers looking for reusable containers with replaceable liners.

How it works

The main parts

Versions in the patent

• Cups with straight or wavy liners (figures 1-6).
• Food boxes with divided liners and clip-on lids (figures 7-12, 22-24).
• Collapsible cups and boxes whose shell sections telescope down (figures 13-21).

Using it

1. Fill the liner - only the silicone touches the food or drink.
2. Close with the press ring or lid, which seals against the liner top.
3. To clean, remove the lid, lift the liner out and wash shell and liner separately.
4. Swap liners for another shape or color in the same shell.

Applications

Reusable cups and tumblers

Coffee, tea and water cups with a washable silicone inside.

Lunch boxes and food storage

Divided liners, clip-on lids, collapsible boxes for travel.

Baby and toddler tableware

Soft contact surfaces in a sturdy, stable shell.

Branded merchandise

Logos or patterns molded through the base - visible through a clear shell.

Pet bowls and travel bowls

Collapsible versions with removable liners.

Where it is less suitable

• Hot-fill vacuum insulation - the air gap is not a vacuum; it is not a thermos.
• Single-use packaging - this is a reusable container concept.