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.

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

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

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

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

I printed out the Patent Drawing in a couple different sizes and made a few card stock mockups. The photos show three different sizes. The largest one is just under 5" wide. I am still tweaking the pattern and I think Matt said his was 5-1/2" wide. I need to find out how he measured the cup he has.

I am holding the cups together with #8-32 Nylon screws and nuts. Finding Rivets and what ever it takes to make them work may not be worth the cost just for one or two cups. For my own cup(s) I might just use try one with the Nylon screws and nuts. I can cut off the extra from the end of the screws and then heat the tip to melt a cap of sorts on that end. I might make one using the Nylon screws and nuts just to see how long it lasts.

The "for real" cup could be made from one of several different material I have on hand. I have .016" titanium, .018" Stainless Steel, 1/32" aluminum and a thin plastic. I will decide later tonight which I will try first but I might go with the aluminum till I decide if I need to change my pattern.
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Edited by bfornshell on 08/29/2012 18:06:25 MDT.

I have one I bought in the 70's and still use a lot.

I have often though about making some myself but it looks like Bill is well on the way.

It's looking great. I simply measured the cup at the widest point using digital calipers.

I thought about scaling up and try a folding POT! :-D

Edited by onehappycampster on 08/29/2012 18:25:12 MDT.

What if you simply laminated the paper?

Here is the cup I usually carry:



I have several of them and they only weigh 1.31 ounces. I also thought about using some of this material but I don't have a piece large enough for the size Bob Lane cup I want without creases in it.

I have some Japanese paper that is waterproof. I thought about it but I don't think the two pieces would press together tight enough to hold water.

I just cut out the two pieces of 1/32" aluminum. When I weighed the two pieces of aluminum and the two nylon screws and nuts the weight is 40 grams or about 1.4 ounces. This will get a bit lighter after I file both pieces a little and cut the nylon screws to length.

Edited by bfornshell on 08/29/2012 23:01:24 MDT.

I have now made a Bob Lane Cup - Clone out of two different materials. I made the first one out of some of my thin aluminum. It was however, 1/32" thick and after attaching the two pieces together I couldn't open the cup.






I then got out a piece of a thin plastic material (.020") I have called "Styrene" and made a second Lane Cup. This one does open and only weighs 13 grams / 0.46 ounces. The down side is that it leaks, drip, drip, drip, drip. It might be possible to tweak the pattern to reduce the leaking situation.







I plan to make at least two more test cups, one out of 0.010 aluminum and one out of 0.010 Stainless Steel.

The question for me now becomes "if I add a cup like this to my gear list" how do I plan to use it? If I want to drink out of it, my first version plastic cup leaks to much. If I only want to use it as a scope to get water from a creek or spring to put in a water filter, water bottle or other water container, then the fact that it leaks may not be that important.

At 0.46 ounce the plastic cup might be light enough to add to my gear list but it has to have a "real" job. Adding a cup like this to my gear list would only work for me if I don't have anything else to scope water with.

I have been playing with the "Styrene" Cup Clone #1 and have refined the edge to reduce "most to all" of the leaking problem. Most of the time now when I open it, it doesn't leak till I handle it a lot.

I think a cup like this would be good to scope water out of a shallow stream or water hole and maybe even to drink out of, but is that good enough to add almost an additional half ounce to my "Super Ultra Light" or "Lighter" gear list.

Since I drink from a bottle I haven't figure out yet what else I can do with a cup like this if I am carrying it.

and

A half ounce is a half ounce is a half ounce.

Being a "one trick pony" makes it a tough fit if you adhere strictly to UL mantra. Maybe we know why you don't see them anymore.

To stop the very slow drip I thought about finding small rubber cord or tube and cut it down one side. Perhaps slipping that over the inside edge that rubs against the inside of the other piece will seal it up.

Hi Matt,

I also thought about some type of gasket material. I am sure something like that would work even a cut piece of paper as a gasket. I would expect to change it out for a new piece of paper often.

The question still for me is what can I replace if I decide to carry a cup like this.

My best idea for something using this design is a collapsible sun or rain hat. Something like the cone style hat worn in may of the Asian countries.

Edited by bfornshell on 09/01/2012 20:50:55 MDT.

Mylar tape folded over the edge? Possibly even Tyvek or even rubber from one of those punching ballon/balls folded over and adhered some way?

Edited by onehappycampster on 09/01/2012 21:56:04 MDT.

Bill, excellent to see you back in action in the workshop. I question (as you do) whether this is a worthy project however. I personally carry a mug that is pretty much solely designed for drinking coffee out of and although it's lightweight I don't care about it's weight all that much. You on the other hand have always been absolutely dedicated to each and every piece of gear's absolute purpose and I honestly wonder whether a piece of gear such as this has any place in your kit.

All of that nonsense aside I'm just happy to see you're in your workshop putting ideas to the test. I seriously love your designs.

Hello everyone! I joined this forum because I HAVE a "Bob Lane Cup" that was my Dad's. I was googling it to see exactly what it was, and found this thread.

My Dad was an avid hiker, camper and outdoorsmen. If any of you would like this cup(for free)I am sure Dad would want someone to have it who appreciates it.

You can pm me. Once you contact me, I will give you my cell phone number so you know I am not a scammer.

I just believe that giving in any way we can, will add to our good karma.

Joyce

Edited by Joyce777 on 10/21/2012 17:23:08 MDT.

I am happy to say, the Bob Lane cup has found a new home with one of your members. :)

That's very nice of you, Joyce. Thanks for sharing!