The present invention discloses a lid and/or container top in general and in particular, a premium item in movable communication with a lid and/or container top.
A lid and/or container top is disclosed with a substantially horizontal member for enclosing the contents of a cup and/or container, the substantially horizontal member includes a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface faces the contents of the cup and/or container. The top surface includes a topological feature capable of receiving at least one of a plug, post, and nipple. The bottom surface includes at least one topological feature capable of receiving a lip of the cup and/or container. A platter with one of a plug, post, and nipple movably resides in said topological feature on said top surface. A premium item in communication with said platter and an access opening for accessing at least some of the contents of the cup and/or container traverses said substantially horizontal member. By premium item it is meant any item in movable communication with a lid and/or container top. For example, and not by way of limitation, premium item may include optical medium and/or media, a coupon, advertisement, game entry piece, access instruction to an internet web site, smart card, calling card, trading card, CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray DVD, holographic media, token, collecting card, collectable, and/or combinations thereof. Further, the premium item can have any size or shape and is not limited to a disc and/or circular shape. The premium item disclosed can be enclosed in a housing structure which is in movable communication with the lid and/or container top and/or independent of a housing structure.
In one embodiment consistent with the invention a lid and/or container top that can be affixed to a cup and/or container is disclosed. The lid and/or container top is further characterized in that it includes an access hole through which the contents of the cup and/or container can be accessed without removing the lid and/or container top from the cup and/or container. The lid and/or container top may have one or more vent holes.
In an overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention a groove and/or track and/or channel for receiving a post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member for attaching a premium item in movable communication to the lid and/or container top. The premium item is movable along the groove and/or track and/or channel. The groove and/or track and/or channel is not necessarily linear and can be curved and/or trace a non-linear path. Further, the groove and/or track and/or channel can run partially and/or totally across the lid and/or container top surface.
In another overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention a lid and/or container top that can be affixed to a cup and/or container is disclosed, wherein the lid and/or container top includes a divot and/or receiving member and/or dimple. The lid and/or container top is further characterized in that it includes an access hole through which the contents can be accessed without removing the lid and/or container top from the cup and/or container. The lid and/or container top may have one or more vent holes. The lid and/or container top is capable of receiving a premium item by way of the divot and/or receiving member and/or dimple. Once the premium item is attached to the lid and/or container top it can be rotated about the vertical axis of the divot and/or receiving member and/or dimple. In an overlapping embodiment of the present invention, the premium item can be rotated about the vertical axis of the divot and/or receiving member and/or dimple to reveal the access hole. The access hole is sized to match the contents of the cup and/or container so that the contents of the cup and/or container can be accessed without removing the lid and/or container top. For example, and not by way of limitation, the access hole can be sized to receive (i) a drinking straw, (ii) chop sticks; and/or (iii) a spoon; or it can be sized to dispense a liquid through an action that involves partially upending the cup and/or container.
In an overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention, the premium item is enclosed in a housing structure that has the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member integral to the housing structure. The housing structure does not have to entirely enclose the premium item.
In a further overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention the premium is enclosed between a top housing element and a bottom housing element. The bottom housing element having the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member for attaching the premium item in movable communication to the lid and/or container top. Alternatively, the top housing element included the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member. In this configuration the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member traverses the bottom housing element, thereby securing the premium item between the top and bottom housing element. In an overlapping embodiment of this embodiment, the top housing element is substantially transparent, at least in part, so that at least part of the premium item can be seen without removing it from the housing structure.
Alternatively, the housing structure is opaque such that a consumer cannot discern the character of the premium item without removing it from the housing structure.
In yet further overlapping embodiment, the housing structure is not integral to the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member. The bottom housing element can receive the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member. The bottom housing element after having received the post and/or plug and/affixing member can then be attached to the lid and/or container top in movable communication with the lid and/or container top. In yet another overlapping embodiment the premium item is moveable along the track and/or groove and/or channel to reveal the access hole. The premium item remains attached to the lid after the access hole is revealed. The access hole and/or opening, once revealed, is able to dispense the contents of the cup and/or container by ways typically know in the art, such as for example, a straw and/or tilting the cup by degrees, and/or eating utensils, such as spoon, fork, and/or chop sticks. In still another embodiment consistent with the invention, the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member traverses the entire housing structure. Alternatively, the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member does at least one of traverses the premium item or otherwise securely holds the premium item to the lid and/or container top.
In an overlapping embodiment of the present invention, the housing structure for the premium item includes a bottom housing element with an upper shelf and a lower shelf. The premium item rests on the upper shelf. The lower shelf is in communication with the lid and/or container top. The distance between the upper shelf and the lower shelf can be varied depending on the application and/or the size, shape, and/or nature of the premium item. For example, if the disclosed lid and/or container top is to be used in conjunction with a hot beverage and/or other hot contents, the distance between the upper shelf and lower shelf is configured so as to allow an adequate distance between the lid and/or container top and the premium item such that the premium item is not damaged by the temperature of the cup and/or container contents. The upper shelf and lower shelf contemplated do not have to be continuous surfaces. For example, the upper shelf can be a ridge and/or lip about the outer and/or inner diameter of the bottom housing element and the lower shelf can be discrete vertical members and/or spacer members.
In a further overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention, the top housing element has an outer lip that over hangs and encloses the premium item and the bottom housing element. Alternatively, the top housing element and bottom housing element are sealed together at the outer diameter of the housing structure.
In yet a further overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention a lid and/or container top is disclosed. The lid and/or container top is affixable to a cup and/or container of appropriate diameter such that the pressure of the cup's and/or container's contents alone cannot remove the lid and/or container top, once affixed, from the cup and/or container.
In an overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention, the lid and/or container top includes a lower lip. The lower lip allows the lid to be affixed to a cup and/or container. The lower lip is made up of two sub-lip structures. The first sub-lip is of a smaller diameter and/or external boundary than the second sub-lip. The first sub-lip is lower than the second sub-lip when going from the bottom to the top of the lid. The first sub-lip and second sub-lip arrangement allows the lid to snap to and/or hold fast to the cup once in place. The lid further includes an access hole. The access hole allows the contents of the cup and/or container to be accessed through the access hole. The lid may further include at least one vent. The access hole may be placed anywhere on the lid and/or container top. The lid further includes a track and/or groove and/or channel. The track and/or groove and/or channel is capable of receiving a post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member. The post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member allows for a premium item to be movably attached to and/or in the track and/or groove and/or channel. The post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member with a premium item attached to it is movable along the track and/or groove and/or channel.
In a further overlapping embodiment consistent with the invention a lid and/or container top is disclosed. The lid and/or container top is affixable to a cup and/or container of appropriate diameter such that the pressure of the contents of the cup and/or container alone cannot remove the lid and/or container top, once affixed, from the cup and/or container. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,589,569, 6,070,752, and 6,196,411 hereafter incorporated by reference in their entirety. The lid and/or container top includes a lower lip. The lower lip allows the lid and/or container top to be affixed to a cup and/or container. The lower lip is made up of two sub-lip structures. The first sub-lip is of a smaller diameter and/or external boundary than the second sub-lip. The first sub-lip is lower than the second sub-lip when going from the bottom to the top of the lid and/or container top. The first sub-lip and second sub-lip arrangement allows the lid to snap to and/or hold fast to the cup and/or container once in place. The lid and/or container top includes head room of predetermined height. The head room allows the top of the lid to be at a height greater than the top of the cup and/or container as defined by the mouth of the cup and/or container. The topology of the lid and/or container top includes a trough and/or shallow recess that allows select facial features of the drinker and/or content consumer to be received when the contents of cup and/or container are consumed. The trough and/or shallow recess may also act as a reservoir to receive excess liquid and/or contents that are dispensed. The lid and/or container top further includes an access hole. The access hole allows the contents of the cup and/or container accessed and/or consumed through the access hole. The access hole is located on the perimeter of the lid and/or container top. The access hole is sized to allow the contents of the cup and/or container to be accessed without remaining the lid and/or container top. The lid and/or container top may further include at least one vent. The topology of the lid further includes a track and/or groove and/or channel. The track and/or groove and/or channel is capable of receiving a post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member. The post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member allows for a premium item to be movably attached to and/or in the track and/or groove and/or channel. The post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member with a premium item attached to it is movable along the track and/or groove and/or channel. In this particular embodiment the premium item is enclosed in a housing structure. The housing structure provides as least one of protection to the premium item, secures the premium item to the lid and/or container top, and/or a combination of both. The housing structure is composed of two sub parts, a top housing element and a bottom housing element. The top housing element includes a post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member for attaching to and/or setting in the track and/or groove and/or channel. The bottom housing element includes a hole for receiving the post and/or plug and/or nipple and/or affixing member of the top housing element. The top housing element traverses the bottom housing element via the bottom housing element hole. The premium item sits intermediate to the top housing element and the bottom housing element. The top housing element movably attaches the premium item and the bottom housing element to the lid and/or container top. Once attached the premium item and the housing structure can be moved along the track and/or groove and/or channel to reveal the access hole. Thereby, allowing access to the access hole without the need to remove the premium item from the lid and/or container top. In an overlapping embodiment the track and/or groove and/or channel includes a detent and/or minor protrusion(s) into the track and/or groove and/or channel. The detent and/or minor protrusion(s) allows the premium item to be held in position while the contents are being dispensed and/or drank.
FIGS. 13 illustrates a cross sectional view of a housing for a premium item consistent with the present invention. The housing 600 includes a nipple and/or post 610 projected downward. The nipple and/or post 610 can be affixed and/or received by a track and/or groove and/or channel and/or divet in a lid and/or container top. The nipple and/or post 610 once affixed and/or received by a track and/or groove and/or channel and/or divet is freely rotatable about the vertical axis of the nipple and/or post 610. The housing 600 consists of a top housing 615 and a bottom housing 620. The bottom housing 620 and top housing 615 are connected by a hinge 625. All manner of hinges are contemplated by the present invention. The bottom housing 620 includes features 630 for receiving an optical disc. The top housing 615 includes a nipple and/or post 635 for securely fascining the top housing 615 to the bottom housing 620 with at least one optical disc enclosed therein and between the top housing 615 and the bottom housing 620. The features 630 for receiving an optical disc may include, for example, a circular topology for receiving the optical disc and elevating the disc above the bottom most surface of the bottom housing 620. The bottom housing 620 further includes a feature for receiving the nipple and/or post 635.
It should be noted that the description of the invention through
The present invention and its various embodiments have been described in reference to the above and by way of the included figures. However, it is contemplated that the various embodiments and elements therein can be used in combination. Additionally, further ways in which the premium item can be attached to a lid and/or container top are contemplated by the present invention and include, for example, a premium item that is snapped to a lid and/or container top by means of a button member; a premium that is attached to a lid and/or container top by a hinge member; and a vertical track for raising and lowering the premium item vertically relative to the lid and/or container top. All manner of attaching a premium item in movable communication with a lid are contemplated by the present invention.
The present invention and its various embodiments have been described in reference to the above and by way of the included figures. However, it is contemplated that the premium item can have any shape or size. It is also contemplated that other materials than those listed above by way of example may replace the premium item. Moreover, it is contemplated that the track and/or groove and/or channel design can be of other types than straight as shown by way of illustration in the figures. The track and/or groove and/or channel does not have to be horizontal but can instead by vertical. Further, it is contemplated tat the access hole need not be located on the perimeter of the lid. Additionally, the lid and/or container top and premium item do not have to be parallel to each other. Further, the surface of the lid does not have to be horizontal and can include a pitch. Alternatively, the premium item can be at a pitch relative to lid and/or container surface.
Persons skilled in the art will recognize that there may be different devices, mechanism, and methods of operation which are with in the spirit and scope of the invention herein disclosed. Also, it should be understood that the drawings, while useful for illustrating the invention, are not intended to be necessarily to scale. The dimension and relative sizes and locations of the various parts shown can be varied, depending upon the particular cup being used, without departing from the scope of the invention. To the extent that drawings imply dimensions and relative size positions, the drawings should be regarded as illustrative only and not limiting the invention to particular dimensions, sizes, positions, and location of parts.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/668,669, filed Apr. 6, 2005, entitled “DRINK LID” and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/718,815 filed Sep. 20, 2005, entitled “CONTAINER LID,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60668669 | Apr 2005 | US | |
60718815 | Sep 2005 | US |