Bob Lane collapsible cup

[Matt Porter]

I pick up this little gem from Ebay. My camera SD card crapped out but here's an article written that tells a bit about the cup. http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=72375 Very lightweight and a cool little collector's piece. Very usable as well. I Googled it and found a copy of the patent. One made in TI foil would be very cool. Cheers.

Matt

[John Whynot]

I remember the Bob Lane cup being available when I first started backpacking in 1976…

Ok, that is pretty cool !!!

[Matt Porter]

It's a shame they stopped making it. I've read that LL Bean was the retailer. Maybe they'll start back someday.

[Bill Fornshell]

Hi,

Thanks Matt for posting this.

I love clever and this is clever.

I found where one sold on ebay for $50. I also found the Patent information.

I might try and make one out of some of my .016" titanium sheet if I can work out the rivet?? / sliding part.

At what point did the patent expire?? (if it has)

If it has expired and you make one, I would love to pick one up from you if you figure out a way to make them work!!

[John Whynot]

I remember that my father's cousin had one of these. It was very springy stainless(?) steel. It snapped into a cone shape when opened. Now I wish I had bought one. Also wish I had kept my Svea stove and Silva compass…

[Matt Porter]

I like the cup but I don't like $50 worth…but a TI version may be worth it just to be the coolest kid in the woods! LOL I just measured the thickness using my digital calipers. It's ".007 thick. You don't think the TI sheet you have is too thick? It's pretty springy stuff.

I have two Svea stoves. Pretty cool but big and heavy. I must admit old school always looks the best in my eyes.

Bill I'll shoot you whatever dimensions you may need.

I'm looking on the US Patent site right now to see what I can find out.

[John S.]

Pat. No. 3,087,640

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3087640.pdf

[Matt Porter]

I read that, too. All I can find on a patent search is that it was issued in 1963. I'm sure there's an office that could inform a person if a patent is expired.

[John S.]

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP0927527A1.pdf

This upgrade can be set horizontal and stand up.

[Bill Fornshell]

Hi,

I printed out the patent drawings and using the photos with the ebay sale as a reference they look to be somewhere around 4" long before folding into a cup.
ebay listing:

ebay cup

I can't make the cup link for ebay work. You should be able to do a cut and paste or try looking for the auction # 130706932772. It will tell you something like auction over but they is a place to click something like "look at original listing".

Th Patent date is Sept 22, 1960 and I expect it is still active. I have no idea how long a Patent lasts. I found the Patent using the number (3,087,640)on Google:

Cup Patent

Anyway, a person can make something that is covered by a Patent if it is for "their use only", I think.

[Matt Porter]

It's 5 1/2" when laying flat.

[Bill Fornshell]

Thanks Phil,

That makes things easier.

[Matt Porter]

I wish I could snap a pic for you. The memory card just HAD to fail. Just let me know what else I can measure for you.

I really like the version John provided a link for.

At first I wondered who "Phil" is. Then I realized I had my account set to the billing info from 2 years ago. I use my middle name, Matthew. So just call me Matt.

[Bill Fornshell]

I made a copy of the Patent drawing using 5.5 inches as the width. I am getting ready to print it out both pieces on card stock for the pattern.

I assume you have a real one? What does the rivet look like. I will try a pop rivet first and see if that will work.

I will make the first couple out of some thin aluminum and see if that will work. Then try a piece of titanium or thin stainless steel.

The only titanium I have is some .016 of an inch.

[Matt Porter]

I do have a real one. With the paper envelope as well. Are you able to receive pic messages on your cell phone?

[Peter Griffith]

The patent has expired. Here's a link explaining current US patent terms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_of_patent_in_the_United_States

[Matt Porter]

Very cool info thanks.

Mr. Bill, just pm me your cell phone number and I'll send you a pic of one of the rivets using my cell phone. They look like small flat head or tinner's rivets to me. I'd opt for the tinners' rivets for reasons of holding power.

[Bill Fornshell]

Matt,

Cell Phone, what is a cell phone? Kidding, I don't have a cell phone and have never even talked on one. How about an email address? I will PM it to you if that will work.

Have a look at the pictures with the ebay sale. They are petty good.

I will try the old fashion rivets. I have some friends that make custom jewelry and they should know where I can get some or they might even do it for me.

[Daryl and Daryl]

Thanks for the post. This is a real blast from the past for me.

In the 70s I used this cup to drink water directly from streams as I hiked. It was lighter and more compact than the popular Sierra Cup. It's thin walls and flexibility also allows one to fill the cup from very shallow water sources (e.g. thin stream running over a rock).

I gave it away once I started filtering my water because I preferred to have a cup that would stand on its own without tipping.

The cleverness of this design still impresses me. I've always figured there must be some other applications for the design but never came up with any.

[Matt Porter]

Daryl,
Take a look at the copy of the patent that John submitted the link for. I would love a few of those!

[Daryl and Daryl]

Matt,

I took a look per your suggestion. Pretty cool improvements.

I love the languge in the patent write-up. It isn't easy to describe something as curvy as this thing but the author does a good job.

Daryl

.

[Matt Porter]

Yes it does look cool. Some folks have a way with language, eh?

[Angelo R.]

I am very excited to see where this goes. It has been great following along so far.

[Author]

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