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The quiet change made to the iconic American red cup that no one noticed
Millions of Americans likely didn't notice that one of the most recognizable consumer products has quietly changed.
The red Solo cup — synonymous with college parties, birthday celebrations, and backyard barbecues — lost the four iconic lines that once wrapped around its sides after a recent redesign.
Instead of the linear indents, Solo cup buyers will now see a squared-off bottom and arched incisions.
The redesigned cups offer enhanced holding comfort. Tactile dots make it easier to grip the cups, while the arched structure reinforces the cup's strength.
But, a presumably unintended result came with the redesign: it dispelled one of the most persistent consumer rumors in America.
According to Solo's parent company, Dart Container, those lines were not designed for mixology.
For years, drinkers believed those lines served as liquid measurements: one ounce for liquor, five for wine, and twelve for beer.
The company enjoyed sales success for its party-hard imagery. The cup became part of iconic imagery, inspiring Toby Keith songs and national holidays.
But in reality, the cup's indented design was engineered for vending machines and packagers to grab without the cups sticking together.
Despite its party-hard reputation, the Solo cup is the result of decades of thoughtful design — much of it led by Robert Hulseman, the inventor behind the plastic version made popular know today.
Before Hulseman filed patents for the party cups, Solo sold pyramid-shaped paper cups.
But the product tended to stick together, creating havoc for consumers who tried to quickly grab a single cup.
Hulseman's innovations resulted in a heavily-engineered product that has underwent dozens of changes through the years, adding structural reinforcements to limit spillage and a square bottom to make the cups easier to balance.
The enhancements have had other benefits the company likely didn't intend, including new cup-stacking competitions.
'For our littler fans, it means they can stack and unstack our cups into a pyramid without them sticking together,' the company said on an FAQ page.
The cups are also helpful measuring tools in for dozens of household chores.
The red Solo cup - synonymous with American party culture and found at nearly every US grocery store - went through an identity change
Users discovered that the indented lines were great for finding the right amount of water to put in rice or estimating the proper amount of mouthwash.
Hulseman passed away in 2016 at the age of 84.
While his cups remained a common sight at alcohol-fueled parties, Hulseman was known as deeply religious and liked to pen poems to God.
He was described as 'supporting a variety of organizations and causes committed to Catholic education, anti-poverty initiatives, and religious communities.'
