1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the field of containers. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a cup lid with integrated container that enables for example simultaneous access of the contents of the container and attached cup without disengagement of the cup lid from the cup.
2. Description of the Related Art
Standard cup lids are simple covers that do not include an integrated container. Rather, known lids cover the contents of a cup which forms a closed container in combination with the cup itself. Known containers that couple with cups include food containers that fit onto the top of yogurt cups for example. Known containers have to be removed from the yogurt cup and then flipped over and opened before the contents of the container and cup may be accessed. It is generally not possible to access the contents of the cup while also accessing the contents of the container without first disengaging the container from the cup. Additionally, food containers that attach to yogurt cups in an upside-down position have a limited food-volume capacity. In such cases, as the yogurt example shows, the food-container walls narrow as they proceed upward toward the bottom of the upside down container.
Known containers that couple with bottles include gift containers that fit onto the top of bottles for example. It is generally not possible to access the contents of the bottles while also accessing the contents of the gift containers without disengaging the gift container from the bottle and then disengaging the lid of the bottle.
Thus simultaneous access of the contents of known cups or bottles and of the contents of an attached container is not possible. This makes for difficult drinking/eating coffee, soda, snacks, popcorn, etc., in malls, fast food restaurants, theaters, amusement parks, sports stadiums or in any other venue. For example, this makes it difficult to eat and drink food in a theater or stadium with one cup-holder per seat.
For at least the limitations described above there is a need for a cup lid with integrated container.
One or more embodiments described in the specification are related to a cup lid with integrated container. Embodiments of the cup lid generally provide a cavity, compartment or closed space, wherein the cup lid is configured to couple with the top of a cup. One or more embodiments may include volumes that extend to, into, out of, or both into and out of the plane defined by the circular top of the cup. In this manner, the cup and lid form at least two containment volumes, one volume formed by the bottommost portion of the cup lid and the inner walls of the cup, and another volume within the cup lid itself. Embodiments of the invention enable easy containment, inclusion of fresh foods, transportation and simultaneous access of solid or liquid in the container with solid or liquid held in the cup, without requiring disengagement of the cup lid from the cup.
Embodiments of the invention may be made to fit any cup size, for example a paper coffee cup, and may be quickly attached and removed from the cup. Embodiments may be constructed from vacuum, thermal or injection molding techniques or in any other manner as desired. Any type of material may be utilized in the construction of one or more embodiments of the invention, for example plastic or polymer. One such plastic may be clear or opaque or any level of translucency. Materials may be chosen for strength and function as required. Common polymers thermosetting polymers include epoxy and phenolic materials. Thermoplastic materials that may be utilized include nylon, polyethylene and polystyrene for example. Coffee cup lids are generally white or black and while most soda or drink-cup lids are clear. Any colors or color combinations may be used. One or more embodiments may utilize components of different translucent values, for example a bottom compartment of the container may be white, while the peel-off or press-on lid portion of the container may be clear so that the contents of the container may be viewed without opening the container. The cavity may contain a thermal liner, for example Styrofoam for cold items such as ice cream or frozen yogurt or alternatively for hot items such as sliders, hamburgers, chili or soup. The cavity may include a single or double wall for extra insulative effect or for any other reason. Thermal sensitive plastics, for example thermochromics may also be utilized to show how hot or cold the item in the container is. These types of plastics change color for example based on their temperature. Graphic symbols and/or letters that for example read “Caution Contents Hot”, may be displayed for example when the thermochromic is hot, for example in Red, wherein the letters would not be shown otherwise, or would be shown in Blue for example if the contents of the container were not hot. These colors are exemplary and any color including transparent may be chosen to represent hot and cold in any embodiment of the invention. For embodiments that do not utilize thermochromic materials, any graphical symbols or lettering may be utilized to warn or inform a potential user. Graphical symbols and/or lettering may be placed on the top, sides, or inside of the container or in any other area that may be viewed or touched. Graphical symbols and/or lettering may include logos, advertisements, puzzles, promotions, trivia or any other type of information that is viewable and may include tactile information including Braille.
The vertical dimension of the cavity may vary from a low, for example about a half an inch when the container is configured to hold a cookie, to a medium, for example about one and a half inches when the container is configured to hold a doughnut or high, for example up to or more than four inches when the container is configured to hold frozen yogurt, ice cream, a hamburger, French fries, or a sandwich. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, any desired dimension of the container may be utilized as desired for the particular application. The horizontal dimension of the container may be of a width less than, equal to, or greater than the diameter of the cup measured across the plane formed by the top of the cup opening. When the horizontal dimension of the container is less than the diameter of the cup opening, then the vertical offset of the dimension may extend downward into the main volume of the cup. Other embodiments enable containers having a horizontal dimension less than, equal to, or greater than the diameter of the cup opening to reside on top of the plane defined by the cup opening. Other embodiments of the container may include portions having a smaller horizontal dimension to extend into the main volume of the cup and a portion of the container that is smaller, equal to, or larger that also extends above the plane defined by the cup opening. Embodiments may be constructed from one or more parts. In the case of an embodiment having a container that extends above, and in some instances, below, the horizontal plane of the cup top, two elements may be fused together for example, or molded or formed as a single unit or may be two separate units that clip or lock together, or in any other manner. The shape of the container may be of any type, circular, oval, triangular, square or a polygon of any number of sides, or any other shape.
One or more embodiments of the invention may include cut-outs to facilitate lifting of the items from within the cavity. For example, an embodiment with at least one cut-out allows for a finger to be inserted into the cavity in order to provide a lifting force to the item in the cavity. More than one cut-out for example may be employed so that opposing locations in the cavity may be employed to lift the item from the cavity as desired. Cut-outs can also be integrated such that uniform or level stacking may be achieved for ease of storage. Embodiments having three cut-outs, for example, stack evenly regardless of initial positioning; however, this is merely an exemplary embodiment, as other embodiments may be formed to readily stack as desired.
One or more embodiments of the invention may employ a hole such as a sip hole or straw hole for example, so that liquid in the cup may be accessed without removing the container. Any shape of hole or any shape straw, i.e., oblong from a cross-sectional view, for any purpose may be utilized as desired. Embodiments employing a hole may make use of a hole on top of the container, or at the base of the container, adjacent to the outer perimeter of the cup lid, when the container bottom is sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the cup rim, or on a vertical wall of the container for example, so that oversize containers may be utilized that, for example, have a larger diameter than the diameter of cup rim. For example, one embodiment of an oversize container allows for a hamburger or French fries to be placed on top of a soda or beer cup. In this latter configuration, a tri-bend straw is provided to effectively follow the contour of a larger container, located directly above, before heading diagonally upward toward the user.
Although the top container may be heat fused to the cup lid, or made from a single molded or thermal-formed unit, for example, in the case of the large container configuration where the straw exits the vertical side wall, the large container may clip to the cup lid below via a bottom clip-on system or a top vertical wall ridge system. Such clip systems as mentioned here provide for removal and reattachment of the top container to the cup lid, as desired by the user.
Embodiments of the invention may utilize a lid to cover the container, wherein in effect, a cup that is coupled with an embodiment of the invention effectively has two lids, one for the container and one formed by the container with the cup. To avoid confusion, “cover” as utilized herein refers to the lid for the container. Embodiments of covers include seal/peel-off, press-on, i.e., external/internal wall friction, press-on dome, rotational, or swivel types of covers. Seal/peel-off covers may be configured using a thermal bonding process of similar or compatible materials, or may utilize an adhesive that allows the cover to be removed permanently or temporarily depending on the adhesive, to access the cavity. Press-on covers are generally plastic covers that may be removed and placed back on the cavity, for example, when placing fresh foods such as cookies within the cavity, or if the contents of the container have not all been removed. Seal/peel-off and press-on covers may be utilized in combination, so that after the press-on cover and seal/peel-off covers are removed, exposing the contents of the container, then the press-on cover may be placed over the container again to enclose the contents of the container for example. Press-on dome covers for example may also include a hole on top that enables a spoon to access food within the container, such as frozen yogurt. Press-on covers may also include an adjustable open/close sip-hole or straw hole. Press-on external/internal wall friction covers may engage or couple in any manner that utilizes friction for the coupling. Press-on type covers may be implemented with a flat portion that is hinged at any peripheral location of the container that allows the lid to flex open in a clam shell fashion, exposing the contents of the container, while retaining the cover such that it remains attached to the exterior wall of the container.
Items suitable for placement within the container include solids or liquids. For example, items may include any combination of one or more solid and/or liquid alone or in combination. Example items include one or more cookie, doughnuts, chocolates, chips, crackers, nuts, popcorn, candies, ice cream, frozen ice, ice coffee, frozen yogurt, cream, water, soda or coffee, fruit pieces, burgers, French fries, sandwiches, or any other solid or liquid. Items that may be sealed in and stored for use or purchase may be refrigerated after sealing if necessary, or items that are selectively prepared or fresh can be placed into the container and may utilize the press-on cover embodiment if desired based on the particular application.
Embodiments of the invention allow for one-handed transportation and simultaneous access of the contents of the cup and container without disengaging the cup lid from the cup. Although, as specified here within, a clip-on system of engagement of the container to the lid below may be utilized, which allows the user to remove or reattach the top container as desired. Various embodiments allow for ease of carrying and drinking/eating coffee, soda, cookies, snacks, etc., in malls, fast food restaurants, theaters, amusement parks, sport stadiums or in any other venue. For example, this allows a parent in an amusement park to carry food and beverages at the same time with one hand, while providing one hand free to hold the hand of a child for safety. In addition, embodiments of the invention simplify eating and drinking by combining these processes into one container and cup, which is significantly more convenient in theaters or stadiums having seats, for example, which provide a single cup holder for seat.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
A cup lid with integrated container will now be described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention.
Cup lid 100a includes at least one wall 102, for example that leads to container bottom 103, which for example may also be considered part of wall 102. As used herein, the term wall is not limited to a surface of any shape, but rather refers to the separation between container 101a and the contents of cup 130. Specifically, embodiments of the invention include at least one wall that defines container 101a that is configured to store a first solid or a liquid separate from a second solid or liquid stored in cup 130 wherein cup 130 generally includes an annular opening that lies in a plane on top of the cup. The cup as shown also includes a rolled rim 131 that coupling element 107 is configured to couple with to hold cup lid 100a onto cup 130. Specifically, coupling element 107 is configured to couple at least one wall to the annular opening on top of said cup, for example by stretching over the smaller diameter portion of the coupling element to allow the rolled edge of the cup to fit into the slightly larger diameter portion of the cup lid. Coupling element 107 is an exemplary form of attachment and any form of attachment may be utilized to couple cup lid 100a to cup 130 as one skilled in the art will appreciate including for example a coupling element that includes a more difficult type of coupling to remove or even a permanent coupling.
Horizontal area 104 includes hole 105a for example for a straw or sip hole and cut-outs 106. Optional elements include rotation indexer 108 and air hole 109. Rotation indexer 108 is described below with respect to its relation to cover 110a. Other optional elements may include optional indicators not shown for brevity, for example configured to press in to show whether the contents of cup 130 are for example diet/regular soda or caffeinated/decaffeinated or to show any other information in a tactile or visible manner.
The at least one wall is configured to enable access of the first solid or liquid and the second solid or liquid without disengagement of the coupling element. For example, the contents of both integrated container 101a and cup 130 are accessible without removing the cup lid. This greatly simplifies eating and drinking in cars, theaters and sport stadiums for example that are equipped with one cup-holder per seat.
Cover 110a as shown is configured as an external wall friction press-on cover, but may also be configured as a seal/peel-off, press-on dome, press-on dome with hole, internal wall friction press-on, or rotational cover so long as the cover is configured to at least partially enclose the container and retain the contents of the container when the cover is coupled with corresponding version of the cup lid. As shown, cover 110a includes hole 115 to allow access of hole 105a when cover 110a is coupled with cup lid 100a and cover 110a may also include holes 118a and 118b that provide discrete rotation values for cover 110a when one or the other hole is rotated over the top of rotation indexer 108 on cup lid 100a. In one angular rotation, hole 105a is open for access and in the other angular rotation, hole 105a is thus closed by cover 110a. When open, i.e., when hole 105a is exposed through cover hole 115, air hole 109 is exposed via hole 118b and when closed, air hole 109 is also closed by cover 110a.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
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