Lid with Multiple Rims to Fit Different Sizes of Cups or Containers

Abstract

A lid made for a cup or container comprising multiple rims to accommodate more than one size of cup or container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a solution of producing a lid that fits a variety of sizes of cups or containers, so an exact fit is a reality. Said invention pertains particularly to the food industry, including fast food, for cups and containers, and may be made disposable or reusable.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today's market is calling for changes and innovation to reduce the amount of material in disposable or even reusable products, particularly pertaining to food service. Supply chain issues abound and serving pieces are getting harder to find, and when available, may not always fit the compatible lids.

As millions of consumers go through drive-thru lanes to obtain food multiple times a day, every day of the year, it is becoming more obvious that supplies are scarce compared to availability just a short time ago. The search is on for the need to condense, conserve and re imagine how we manufacture, obtain and use our food service products.

A major problem in the fast food industry in particular is lids that don't fit the cups. Lids are an important part of fast food, considering fast food is “food on the go.” Those going through drive-thru lanes are getting back on the road after purchasing their food and expect their beverages to be covered to avoid spillage. Others eating inside will be taking their cups with them as they leave and expect the same. The dilemma of lids that don't fit not only is aggravating but can be unsafe as well. Children and adults alike rely on lids for drinking cups to help with unsteady hands, walking or driving situations therefore most drink cup lids accommodate the insertion of a straw my means of slits. Lids are used for all sorts of beverages as well as food containers for “to go” entrees or soups. A lid that fits is unquestionably important, especially in today's “take out” culture accelerated by the pandemic in which measures have been taken to reduce contact with groups of people. Food delivery services are in abundance and beverages without fitting lids can be a disaster for spills in delivery vehicles, which are usually personal vehicles and individually owned.

Subsequently, the aforementioned pandemic has created workforce shortages which feed into supply chain issues. That situation, coupled with the push and legislation to reduce the volume of plastics in food service items, such as utensils, straws, cups, plates and containers, has created the widening gap between supplies we used to have in abundance and supplies that are now available. The food industry has been particularly affected since most of the service items are considered “disposable.” The amount of waste is tremendous on a daily basis, and new legislation demands a reduction in disposable materials, primarily plastics.

The solution is the present invention: Lid with Multiple Rims to Fit Different Sizes of Cups or Containers. The present invention features multiple rims to accommodate more than one size of cup or container. This increases the chances of having a lid that actually fits the size of cup or container the food service will either have in stock or are able to obtain. This relieves the business owner of complaints from customers who either are denied cup lids altogether or who get cups full of beverages with ill fitting lids, which can lead to spills, while at the same time will provide satisfied customers with lids that fit their cups.

Said invention may also have a tab pull, which will allow the larger or bottom rim to be torn off and removed providing a more conventional fitting lid for the cup or container if the circumference of the opening fits the smaller sized rim rather than hanging out over the edge. If a cup opening circumference fits the large, or bottom-most rim of the multiple rimmed lid, the outward fit would be conventional, securing to the outer rim of a cup, with the additional rims appearing as upward stacking tiers. The multiple rims will get smaller in circumference as they go up on the stack. If the cup opening circumference fits the smaller sized rim higher up inside the tiered stack, the bottom, or largest rim, will fit down lower over the cup rim, and stand out from the sides of the cup. Having a pull tab to remove the unneeded extra lower rim(s) would be beneficial in maintaining the ability to hold, maneuver and drink from the lid without excess material in the way which could also cause the lid to become unstable and pop off if bumped or nudged.

A lid that fits multiple sizes of cups or containers would reduce the amount of material needed for more than one sized lid to material needed for only one lid. If there are two or three rims on one lid, the amount of material reduced would equate to one or more lids worth, which is significant and ecologically satisfying.

The multiple rimmed lids designed for beverage cups could be without features or have additional features including straw slits, a straw-type mouthpiece, drink-through mouthpiece or sip holes, flavor indicator push buttons, pressure equalization valve, logos or other wording. The multiple rimmed lids designed for food containers could be without features or have additional features including steam escape holes, logos, warning wording or other features.

The lid rims are formed to accommodate and accept the coinciding rim of the cup with which it is matched for a fit. Each rim of the multiple rimmed lid is fashioned to fit up and over the edge of the same sized cup rim and secured below the outer rim of the cup. An additional feature may be an inset inner portion of the lid platform which would recess the top of the lid down into the cup opening.

The multiple rimmed lid will reduce the amount of warehouse storage space needed by distributors as well as restaurants with limited storage or counter space. In retail, space equals money. The space saved could be used by other products to create additional potential sales. The multiple rimmed lid may have a drink-through feature, such as a cut hole or a straw-type mouthpiece, which would eliminate the need for a straw as well, and would save additional storage and counter space while further reducing the amount of plastic needed to create an additional item. Essentially, the multiple rimmed lid can eliminate the need for additional sizes of single rimmed lids as well as straws.

The multiple rimmed lids may be manufactured by thermoforming or injection molding, comprised of polymeric, recycled, compostable, PLA or biodegradable material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a multiple rimmed lid with a plain, undefined top surface 101. The edge of the top surface of the lid is surrounded by a fitted rim 102 that encompasses the open edge of a cup or container and cinches in beneath the rim of the cup or container to form a continuous sealing band 103 to prevent leakage. The edge of the first or uppermost rim 104 may have indentions to help keep the lid securely fastened to the cup or container rim. A “v” or “u” shaped valley 105 fits down into the opening of a second and larger rim, attached to the first. This allows the second rim to fit a larger cup or container size 106. The edge ending the second, or bottom rim 107 may have indented designs to help keep the lid secure under the second continuous sealing band 103 and beneath the rim of the cup or container. A cut edge around the lowest rim 108 completes the multiple rimmed lid for a cup or container.

FIG. 2 encompasses the same features of FIG. 1 but replaces the “v” or “u” shaped valley 105 by adding a perforated line 109 to the lowest point of the “v” or “u” shape to aid in the removal of the lower rim or rims. A pull tab 110 is an optional feature to make it easier to pull away the lower rim or rims from the rim directly above by means of pulling along the perforation 109 for complete and easy removal.

FIG. 3 is a top view with optional lid surface features including a raised lid feature 111 with finger indentations or an optional straw-type mouthpiece 112. A third rim tier 113 is indicated to show the number of rims can be increased beyond two. Each added rim indicates another size of cup or container that can be fitted with the multiple rimmed lid.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are side views of the multiple rimmed lid fitting two sizes of cups or containers. The upper rim 114 is the smallest circumference while the rim beneath the top rim, which maybe the second or lower rim will fit a larger sized cup or container. If the lid has more than two rims, the lowest rim 115 will be the largest circumference.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a side view of the multiple rimmed lid showing optional features 111 or 112 with two rim layers. Each of the multiple rims will get progressively smaller as they go higher to fit smaller cups or containers. The smallest circumference of rim will be first and directly under the lid surface while the largest rim will be at the very bottom, or edge of the lid. FIG. 6 shows the pull tab feature 110 and FIG shows the multiple rimmed lid without the pull tab.

Claims

1. a lid for cup or container comprising multiple stacking rims of increasingly larger sizes from the upper rim attached to the surface of the lid to the bottom rim edge.

2. a lid for a cup or container comprising stacking rims of increasingly larger sizes from the upper rim attached to the surface of the lid to the bottom rim edge with perforations between the levels of the lids for the purpose of removing lower rims which may be unnecessary or cumbersome.

3. a lid for a cup or container comprising stacking rims of increasingly larger sizes from the upper rim attached to the surface of the lid to the bottom rim edge with perforations between the levels of the lids for the purpose of removing lower rims which may be unnecessary or cumbersome with a pull tab feature to aid in rim removal.