Patent Grant
7246716
This invention relates to cup lids, and more particularly relates to a disposable cup lid for covering the open end of a beverage cup, where the addition of condiments to the beverage is desirable by the consumer before the drinking of the beverage. The beverage cup may be used to carry hot beverages such as coffee, tea, hot chocolates, and the like, or it may be used to carry cold beverages such as ice tea, ice coffee, or cappuccino.
With the ever increasing demands of our busy lives, more and more people are relying on the convenience of fast food and take-outs. Indeed, the fast food industry has significantly grown over the years, and this in turn has contributed to the growth of the manufacturing of the containers and lids used in holding and containing the food and beverages. One particular area of the fast food industry which has exploded in the recent decades is the sale of coffee, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate, tea and the like. These beverages are available both as hot beverages or cold beverages. They are usually sold at cafes, fast food restaurants, and drive-throughs, and are usually available to the consumers as take-away beverages. Beverages of this sort are typically contained in paper or polystyrene cups; and polystyrene plastic disposable cup lids are usually provided for placement over such cups.
Many variations of such disposable cup lids are available in today's market. The disposable cup lids may be relatively flat, or they may be domed or semi-domed. The domed or semi-domed type lids are particularly suitable for beverages such as cappuccinos, hot chocolates, and the like, which typically have some froth or foam at the top of the beverage when it is dispensed into the cup. In the case of cold beverages, the domed or semi-domed type lids provide additional volume for foam or for ice cubes which are floating in the beverage. Whether the lids are flat or domed, the lids are provided with a drinking opening so as to permit the consumer to drink the beverage contained in the cup without having to remove the lid. The opening may be a small drink-through opening that is pre-formed near the peripheral region of the cup lid. In another variation, the drink-through opening is defined by a tearable foldback tab. When the tab is torn and folded back, the drink-through opening is provided in the lid. In yet another variation, the tab may have to be torn off from the lid in order to create the drink-through opening.
A drawback of these conventional disposable cup lids is that the opening provided is not sufficiently large enough for the consumer to add condiments such as sugar, cream, milk and spices into the hot beverage. The opening is designed to serve solely as a drink-through opening, and thus the size of the opening is typically quite small so as to prevent spills or splashes of the hot beverage from the cup. If the consumer wishes to add condiments into the hot beverage, he or she would be required to first remove the lid from the cup, and then add the condiments into the hot beverage. Since most consumers like to enjoy such beverages with at least the addition of some type of condiments, the conventional disposable cup lids do not allow the consumer to add the condiments to the beverage without having to first remove the lid from the cup. Removal of such disposable cup lid from a cup containing a full amount of beverage is difficult, inconvenient, cumbersome, and possibly dangerous in certain circumstances, especially when the consumer is driving, riding in a vehicle, or walking. The difficulty of removing the cup lid is further exacerbated when the beverage contained within the cup is a hot beverage. The consumer purchased the beverage as a take-out item, and as such, the lid and the container provided need to be durable and spill-resistant so as to permit the consumer to be able to carry the beverage around safely.
Attempts have been made to provide disposable cup lids having not only a drink-through opening, but also another port for the consumer to add condiments into the beverage. However, disposable cup lids of this type which are currently available are not very effective, particularly the condiment opening is typically closed off by a resilient means, and thus making the condiment opening not easily accessible when the addition of condiments through the condiment opening into the beverage is desirable.
In United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0102312 published to HORNER on Jun. 5, 2003, a disposable lid with a cream and sugar port is taught. The disposable lid is structured in such a manner that when placed on a disposable cup, the user may add condiments to the beverage in the cup without having to remove the lid from the cup. The condiment port is on the opposite side of the lid from the drinking port. Furthermore, the condiment port is defined by a slit which is oriented perpendicularly to an imaginary line that runs through the center of the lid between the drinking port and the condiment port. When the condiment port is in use, the cap can be selectively deformed by the user to create an opening sufficient to allow the introduction of condiments into the cup. When the deforming pressure is removed, the cap is biased to return to its original closed position. In the closed position, the condiment port is substantially blocked by a resilient cap that is unitarily formed as part of the cover. While the cap substantially blocks the condiment port so as to prevent leakage of beverage from the cup, the cap partially obstructs the condiment port even when the condiment port is in use, which makes the addition of condiments through the condiment port difficult and cumbersome.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,952 issued to MENDENALL et al. on Apr. 20, 1999 teaches a spill-resistant cup lid with condiment funnel and stirring rod. The lid is adapted for use with a beverage container having a hot beverage held within. The lid has a drink-through opening in the form of an arcuately shaped spout, located adjacent the upper peripheral rim of the cup lid. A condiment funnel opening is located near the center of the lid which serves to channel excess beverage back into the cup, and also through which condiments may be poured into the cup. A stirring rod with a hemispherically shaped flange disposed near the upper portion of the rod is provided. The hemispherical flange rests in the condiment funnel opening and aids the consumer in stirring the beverage. The hemispherical flange helps thermally seal the cup lid to decrease heat loss from the hot beverage. Since the stirring rod with the hemispherical flange is a separate entity from the cup lid, the stirring rod could be misplaced or inadvertently discarded by the user after stirring the condiments into the beverage.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,493 issued to HAN on Aug. 10, 1999, a lid for a beverage container is taught. The lid has a flexible disk-like body and a plurality of slot openings formed in the body. Each of the slot openings is adapted to receive a small container containing additives, such as sugar or cream. Upon application of pressure, the slot opening which is defined by a plurality of intersecting lines breaks open. Near the slot opening, the lid also has protrusions formed therein which create an opening in the container as the container is inserted into the slot opening. When the small additive container is inserted into the slot opening, a release opening is formed in the body of the additive container and the content contained therein is released. The lid as taught by HAN requires the condiments to be packaged in specifically sized additive containers which are compatible with the particular dimensions of such a lid. The consumer using the lid provided by HAN would not be able to use condiments contained in packages or containers currently exist in the market. If the specifically sized additive containers containing the condiments are not available, and the consumer need to use sugar and cream in existing packages or containers, the consumer nevertheless is required to remove the lid from the cup before adding the condiments to the beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,647 issued on Nov. 9, 1999 also to HAN is a Continuation-In-Part patent of the above noted United States Patent. In this Continuation-In-Part patent, the inventor teaches a disposable lid for a container in which the lid has pre-stored additives such as sugar or cream contained therein. The lid includes a base member sized to fit over the container where the base member has at least one compartment region with a sealed outlet, and a cover sealing the compartment region to prevent the content from exiting the compartment region. When the cover is actuated, the outlet breaks open and allows the additive in the compartment region to flow into the container. Since each of the compartments has a pre-determined amount of condiments contained therein, once the cover is opened, the entire amount of the condiments contained in the compartment is released into the beverage. Thus, the consumer is not permitted to add a desired amount of condiments into the beverage suitable to the consumer's taste. Further, as soon as one of the condiments contained in such a lid is passed its expiry date, the entire lid has to be discarded which is very uneconomical.
It will be apparent from the foregoing prior art that the disposable cup lids have condiment ports formed therein, and such condiment ports are typically not readily accessible. Further, it will be apparent from the foregoing prior art that the disposable cup lids have condiments pre-contained therein.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel cup lid which obviates or mitigates the disadvantages of the prior art.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a cup lid for placement onto the rim of a drinking cup having a substantially circular opening at its upper end is provided. The cup lid of the present invention comprises a cover portion having at least first and second substantially planar regions, a rim portion around the periphery of the cover portion, a hinge, a reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab and a recess in the first substantially planar region. The cover portion has a condiment opening defined in the first substantially planar region, and a drinking access port defined in the second substantially planar region and opposite the condiment opening. The rim portion is sealingly securable to the upper end of the drinking cup. The hinge is formed at least partially along a chord and is bisected by a diameter of the cup lid. The reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab is defined by the hinge and by fault lines formed in the first substantially planar region. Further, the reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab has an upstanding post provided thereon. The recess is dimensioned to frictionally receive the post of the condiment tab when it is torn and folded back. When the condiment tab is torn and folded back, the condiment opening is accessible.
Preferably, the drinking opening is in the peripheral region of the cover portion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the drinking access port provides a readily accessible drinking opening. In another embodiment of the present invention, the drinking access port is defined by a hanging chad such that when the hanging chad is dislocated from the drinking access port, a drinking opening is provided.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cup lid is dome shaped and is such that the cover portion is disposed above the rim portion. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first substantially planar region and the hinge are disposed below the second substantially planar region. Preferably, the hinge is an U-shaped hinge.
Typically, but not necessarily, the fault lines defining the reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab of the cup lid are pre-cut.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fault lines defining the reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab of the cup lid are scored. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the fault lines defining the reclosable and tearable fold-back condiment tab of the cup lid are serrated.
In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rim portion has a channel defined therein, and a skirt downwardly extending therefrom such that when the cup lid is sealingly secured to the upper end of the drinking cup, the rim of the drinking cup is received in the channel of the cup lid and frictionally fitted therein.
In keeping with one aspect of the present invention, the cup lid is formed from a sheeted material which has an extrusion grain, and wherein the hinge has an longitudinal axis which is parallel to said extrusion grain. In this embodiment, the cup lid may further comprise at least one stop means which is adjacent to the hinge, on the same side as the recess in the first substantially planar, so as to prevent the tearable fold-back condiment tab from being torn beyond the hinge.
In another aspect of the present invention where the cup lid has a U-shaped hinge, the cup lid is also formed from a sheeted material which has an extrusion grain, and wherein the U-shaped hinge has an longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to the extrusion grain.
Typically, but not necessarily, the upstanding post of the tearable fold-back condiment tab has grip means which aids in the tearing of the condiment tab.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cup lid is flat and is such that the first, and second substantially planar regions of the cover portion lie substantially in the same plane. Still further, the drinking access port is defined by a tearable fold-back drinking tab such that when the drinking tab is torn and folded back, away from the rim portion of the cup lid, the drinking opening is accessible. In still another embodiment, the drinking access port is defined by a tear tab such that when the tab is torn and dislocated away from the drinking access port, a drinking opening is accessible.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, and use, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example in association with the accompanying drawings in which:
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following discussion.
The present invention provides a cup lid for covering the open end of a beverage cup, where the addition of condiments to the beverage is desirable by the consumer before the drinking of the beverage. The beverage cup may be used to carry hot beverages such as coffee, tea, hot chocolates, and the like, or it may be used to carry cold beverages such as ice tea, ice coffee, or cappuccino.
Referring first to
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the cup lid 10 is dome shaped. Such dome shaped cup lid 10 is particularly suitable for beverages which have some froth or foam at the top of the beverage when it is dispensed into the cup. In the dome shaped cup lid 10, the cover portion 18 is disposed above the rim portion 24.
The drinking access port 36 of cup lid 10 is in the peripheral region of the cover portion 18. The drinking access port 36 is substantially smaller in size than the condiment opening 34; the drinking access port 36 is unobstructed and is of a size to permit ease of drinking. Typically, the drinking opening 36 of the dome shaped cup lid 10 is preformed. In this particular embodiment, the drinking access port 36 provides a readily accessible drinking opening.
Also, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in
In one embodiment of the cup lid of the present invention, the fault lines 38 are pre-cut. In another embodiment of the present invention, the fault lines 38 are scored. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the fault lines 38 are serrated.
As best seen in
As can be seen in
As best seen in
In another embodiment of the present invention as shown in
Furthermore, as best seen in the second embodiment shown in
In a third embodiment of the present invention shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cup lid is of one piece construction, and is formed from a suitable plastic material. More preferably, the cup lid is thermoformed from extruded plastics sheet material.
Turning now to
While only specific combinations of various features and components of the present invention have been discussed herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that desired subsets of the disclosed features and components and/or alternative combinations of these features and components can be utilized, as desired.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not to the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
Moreover, the word “substantially” when used with an adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic; e.g., substantially planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting characteristics associated with a planar element.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4350260 | Prueher | Sep 1982 | A |
| 4460103 | Rama et al. | Jul 1984 | A |
| 4473167 | Bailey | Sep 1984 | A |
| 4913305 | Hanafusa et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
| 5065880 | Horner | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5398843 | Warden et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5894952 | Mendenhall et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
| 5934493 | Han | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5979647 | Han | Nov 1999 | A |
| 6089397 | Van Melle | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6612456 | Hundley et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 20030102312 | Horner | Jun 2003 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 0849187 | Jun 1998 | EP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050092749 A1 | May 2005 | US |
