Patent Application
20230257170
Not applicable.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The patent owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
This disclosure relates to lids for drinking cups, and more specifically, to a drink-through lid for beverage containers, and elements thereof useful to minimize or substantially avoid escape of liquids through the lid.
Disposable beverage containers—of the type known as cups and which are described herein as drinking cups or beverage cups—are ubiquitous for use in “on-the-go” consumption of liquids, particularly hot beverages such as coffee or tea. Disposable beverage cups often utilize a disposable lid. Various lid designs include openings therein, or openable portions therein, configured with the idea of minimizing splashing or spilling of the beverage from the cup.
One type of disposable lid that is now widely used is a drink-through type lid that provides a horizontally oriented drink outlet on a top surface of a raised rim. Such a design allows a user to drink-through the lid in a manner similar in many respects to drinking through a straw, in that it usually seems that a limited amount of liquid is provided through the opening. Unfortunately, and especially during transport, lids with such openings may allow escape of liquid (especially when full), unless the drink outlet is sealed, such as by use of a stopper or plug. Consequently, spill prevention devices used with such designs do not allow drinking without subsequent removal of the stopper or plug. Similarly, other disposable lids have been provided that include rip-open or fold-back tabs that lift to allow drinking, but which prevent drinking until such tabs are removed or folded.
One concept of using a flexible structure that can be transitioned from a convex shape to a concave shape to open the drink opening of a beverage container lid was described in my prior patent application, published as US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2019/0023459 A1, on Jan. 24, 2019, and titled Drink-Through Reclosable Spill Resistant Beverage Cup Lid with Vent Structure, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety, including the specification, claims, and drawing figures. However, even though that design provided many improvements over prior art lids, it must be recognized that the design provided in that disclosure did not overcome all of the various obstacles in enhancing the drinking experience, some of which shortcomings remain inherent in that design. Thus, there is significant room in the art for further improvements.
In general, drink-through lid designs are constrained by the volume limitations of the three dimensional space which is available within the size limitations and workable shapes (e.g. manufacturing constraints, stacking and storage constraints, and functionality issues) for lids. Some of the issues which a designer needs to consider include:
(a) First, in a drink-over rim or drink-through lid design, there must be adequate space from the drink rim inward toward other features of the lid, in order to allow for the top lip of a user to only touch the drink rim when drinking from the lid.
(b) Second, a drink opening must be spaced from and located a sufficiently large distance down the inner side wall of the drink rim so that the user's top lip does not hit the edge of, or cover, the drink opening.
(c) Third, there must be adequate space for the user's nose—i.e. to not rub against the lid, when the flexible structure is in the downward position with the drink outlet open.
(d) Fourth, the flexible structure must operate within a limited vertical space. The overall height of the lid cannot be too tall, and the flexible structure cannot extend too far downward into the container, i.e. into liquids in the cup, when in the downward position with the drink outlet open.
(e) Fifth, the structure and operational method provided and utilized for transitioning the flexible structure from an upward, drink outlet closed position to a downward, drink outlet open position, should avoid requiring a user to push on the structure at a location that is too close to the drink opening location, since it becomes an unpleasant user experience if the user must place their finger too close to the drink well where liquid pools form (when opening) or already exist (while transitioning the flexible structure to an upwardly, drink outlet closed position), after having used the lid in an open position for taking a drink.
(f) Sixth, there must be sufficient surface area on a portion of the flexible structure which is manipulated by the user, in order to allow the user to be able to comfortably and reliably transition the flexible structure from closed to open, and from open to closed.
(g) Seventh, the flexible structure must satisfactorily transition from a drink outlet closed position to a drink outlet open position, and vice versa, while minimizing or eliminating structures such as slits that may have undesirable effects.
The above noted design constraints are, at least to some substantial degree, addressed in my above noted patent application. But, in that structure, an actuator is provided for the flexible structure which is spaced away from the drink opening, and occupies a relatively large portion of the overall surface area of the lid, in order to provide a sufficiently large area for the user to push on to transition the structure from closed to open. Thus, the flexible structure provided in that application is provided in a predominantly horizontal configuration, in order to fit the flexible structure within the dimensions available in the volume provided in the constrained three dimensional space. Unfortunately, the relatively large, substantially horizontally positioned flexible structure provided in that application results in a drink well with a relatively shallow floor, which is not optimal for drainage of liquid therefrom. In addition, given the size of the flexible structure provided, the attachment of a reclosing actuator opposite the drink opening would be problematic, since such an actuator would occupy the area where the user's nose should otherwise be located when drinking a liquid through the lid. Consequently, the design disclosed in that patent application provides a structure which makes it somewhat difficult to reclose the flexible structure by returning the flexible structure to an upward, drink outlet closed position.
Thus, there remains a need for a lid design for a disposable beverage cup or container that simultaneously minimizes or avoids spill of liquid from the beverage cup or container, while allowing the user to drink through the lid. It would be even more advantageous for such a lid design to be provided in a single piece, low cost, disposable material. It would be additionally desirable if such a lid design were available in a configuration that is easy to ship, compact for storage, and easy to install at point of sale. Further, it would be desirable if such a lid enhanced ease of use, by substantially preventing liquid spill during transport, while allowing drinking when opened, yet easily enabling the lid to be reversibly resealed to prevent spillage of liquid through the lid.
I have now developed a new design for a drink-through lid which provides a flexible structure that easily transitions to or from a drink outlet open position. In an embodiment, the design uses a lever located at an inward edge of the flexible structure. In an embodiment, the design uses a lever which is easily manipulated by a user to move the flexible structure between an upward, drink outlet closed position, and a downward, drink outlet open position. In an embodiment, the flexible structure may be provided in a configuration where the hinges connecting the flexible structure to the stationary portions of the lid are configured to operate along a single, common inclined plane.
The drink-through lids described herein have been designed so that flexible spill resistant structures may be fabricated utilizing conventional manufacturing processes, such as by thermoforming. In various embodiments, drink-through lids with the novel flexible spill resistant structures provided herein significantly enhance a user's beverage drinking experience as compared to various prior art drink-through lids for beverage cups. The novel spill resistant flexible structures are configured to ideally prevent, or at least provide minimization of liquid spills through the lid of a beverage cup when the flexible structure is in the closed position, and also limit splashing when the flexible structure is in the open position. Importantly, the novel flexible structure provided by the lid designs disclosed herein allow a user to drink from the cup or beverage container without the necessity of removing rip-open tabs, or removing closure devices such as plugs or stoppers.
In an embodiment, a drink-through lid is provided for a beverage cup having an open end circumscribed by a sealing bead. The drink-through lid has a rim with a bottom edge, and an interior bead sealing portion having an upper edge. The base is sized and shaped to sealingly engage the open end of the beverage cup. The drink-through lid is provided with a raised lip portion having an exterior portion extending upwardly from the base. An outer lip portion is provided, and an interior portion is provided sloping downwardly from the outer lip portion to lower end portions. A cover is provided extending inwardly from at least some of the raised lip portion. The cover includes a deck extending inwardly from the raised lip portion, and a sump portion located in an interior portion of the deck. The sump portion may be lower, i.e. more toward the cup below, as compared to the position of the deck, and thus provides additional clearance space for the nose of a user.
A flexible structure is provided. The flexible structure may be provided by a plurality of interconnected panels and a lever. In an embodiment, a plurality of polygonal panels may be provided. In an embodiment, the plurality of polygonal panels may include outer members and one or more central members. In an embodiment, the one or more central members may comprise polygonal members. In an embodiment, the one or more central members may be provided in an irregular hexagonal shape. In an embodiment, a plurality of hinges connects the movable flexible structure to a stationary sump portion. In an embodiment, at least some of the plurality of hinges may be located along a plane P which is oriented downward toward the outer lip portion, when compared to a reference plane H0, which is located at an upper edge of the interior bead sealing portion. In an embodiment, all of the hinges in the plurality of hinges connecting the movable flexible structure to the stationary portions of the lid, such as the sump portion, may be located along a common inclined plane P.
Each of the outer members of the flexible structure has an outer edge, and each outer edge may be joined to the stationary sump portion via a hinge. Each of the outer members of the flexible structure has an inner edge, and each inner edge may be joined via a hinge to the one or more central polygonal members. The lever may be joined by at least one hinge to the sump portion, and by hinges to the adjacent outer members of the flexible structure, and by at least one hinge to the one or more central members. The lever, when having moved the flexible structure to a downwardly shaped structure, is positioned below the height of the raised lip portion of the lid.
In order to provide a drink outlet, an outer slit is provided between the flexible structure and the interior portion of the raised lip portion when the flexible structure is in the upward position. Thus, when the flexible structure is in the upward position, the drink outlet is closed, to minimize or prevent liquid flow upward through the lid via the drink outlet. When the flexible structure is moved to the downward position, a drink outlet is defined between the interior portion of the raised lip portion, and the flexible structure. At the same time, the flexible structure, located in the downward, drink outlet open position, provides a drink well. Overall, the flexible structure includes an outer end which is positionable, and when in the upward, closed position, it substantially prevents, or at least minimizes, the upward flow of liquid from the interior of a beverage cup through the drink outlet. Thus, direct splash of liquid from the interior of a beverage cup, outward through the drink outlet, is effectively prevented, with a flexible structure which is easily and cleanly manipulable by a user.
The present invention(s) will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, using for illustration the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:
The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from a final configuration for a drink-through disposable lid suitable for use with a spill resistant flexible structure which is reversibly positionable between a drink outlet closed position and a drink outlet open position, using the principles described herein, or that may be implemented in various embodiments described herein for such drink-through lids. Other variations in drink-through lid designs with spill resistant features may use slightly different mechanical structures, angular configurations, mechanical fit arrangements, liquid flow configurations, or vapor flow configurations, and yet employ the principles described herein and as generally depicted in the drawing figures provided. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of exemplary drink-through lid with spill resistant flexible structures for use on beverage containers. Such details may be quite useful for providing high quality improved beverage container drink-through lids with spill resistant flexible structures, for use in both minimizing spills, and enabling a user to reclose the lid after initially drinking through the lid.
Thus it should be understood that various features may be utilized in accord with the teachings hereof, as may be useful in different embodiments as useful for various sizes and shapes of cups, various drink-through lids, and various spill resistant flexible structures, within the scope and coverage of the teachings herein as defined by the claims.
Attention is directed to
As better seen in
As seen in
The outer slit 84 is provided between the flexible structure 70 and the interior portion 54 of the raised lip portion 48. This provides a spill resistant closure when the flexible structure 70 is positioned upwardly. When the flexible structure 70 is positioned as a downwardly shaped flexible structure 70, the outer slit 84 defines a drink outlet 80 between the inner portion 54 of raised lip portion 48, and the outer edge 86 of the flexible structure 70. Thus, opposed engagement edges, namely an upper drink outlet edge 87 at outer slit 84 on the interior portion 54 of the raised lip portion 48, and a lower drink outlet at the outer edge 86 of the flexible structure 70, provide a drink outlet sealing structure which resists passage of a liquid therethrough. The flexible structure 70 defines a significant portion, if not all of the floor of a drink well 88. In an embodiment, the lower reaches 98 (see
In an embodiment, the flexible structure 70 may be provided by a plurality of polygonal panels (see panels 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, in
As seen in
As seen in
In an embodiment, a frame 68 may be provided in sump portion 64. In such an embodiment, at least some of the plurality of hinges 72 connect to the sump portion 64 via attachment to frame 68. The frame 68, located in sump portion 64, may be at least partially configured in the shape of the lower portion of a truncated A-frame, and wherein the frame further includes, beyond the lower ends 102 of the truncated A-frame portion, inwardly directed pincer portions 104. In an embodiment, the lower outer members 903 and 904 are hingedly affixed to the frame 68 from one of the inwardly directed pincer portions 104. As earlier noted, the sump portion 64 may include lower sump portions 98. Such lower sump portions 98 are located adjacent the inwardly directed pincer portions 104. In an embodiment, the lower sump portions 98 and the inwardly directed pincer portions 104 are oriented along a common plane P, as seen in
As seen in
As shown in
The unique flexible structure 70 described herein is configured in a compact design within space limitations as depicted in
D1 is 0.5 inches or more from D0,
D2 is 1.8 inches or less from D0,
H4 is 0.2 inches or less above H3,
H3 is even with, or below, the raised lip portion,
H2 is 0.2 inches or more below H3, and
H1 is 0.5 inches or less below H0.
In an embodiment, D2 may be 1.6 inches or less from Do. In an embodiment, D2 may be 1.4 inches or less from Do. In an embodiment, H2 is 0.3 inches or more below H3. In an embodiment, H2 is 0.4 inches or more below H3. In an embodiment, at least some of the polygons are rectangles. In an embodiment, the flexible structure 70 may be located within a flexible structure location as shown in
As shown in
Various embodiments may be provided using various types of plastics. Suitable plastics may be thermoplastics. In various embodiments, the combination of a lid and beverage cup may be disposable, in that they are intended only for a single use. For such uses, very inexpensive thermoplastic materials may be suitable for construction of the lids 30. Other than the exemplary structural techniques just mentioned above for facilitating manufacture of lid designs as taught herein, the processes for manufacturing such goods are well known in the art, and thus will not be further explained herein. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that various embodiments may be manufactured using other processes, and consequently, the invention is not limited to any particular method of manufacture.
In the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed exemplary embodiments for the design of a disposable lid with flexible structure for minimizing or eliminating spills through a flexible but closed drink-through lid, while allowing the lid to be opened and closed, repeatedly during use. However, certain of the described details may not be required in order to provide useful embodiments, or to practice selected or other disclosed embodiments. Further, for descriptive purposes, various relative terms may be used. When used in a descriptive manner, such terms are provided to facilitate understanding of the various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. And, various actions or activities in any method described herein may have been described as multiple discrete activities, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in providing an understanding of the embodiment. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that such activities are necessarily order dependent. In particular, certain operations may not necessarily need to be performed precisely in the order of presentation. Also, the reader will note that the phrase “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment” has been used repeatedly. This phrase generally does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. Finally, the terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” should be considered synonymous, and open ended, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to”, unless the context expressly dictates otherwise.
From the foregoing, it can be understood by persons skilled in the art that a novel beverage container lid 30, and flexible structure 70 design to provide spill resistance while in use with a beverage cup 32, have been described herein. Although only certain specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, there is no intent to limit this invention by these embodiments. Rather, the invention is to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents when taken in combination with the description.
Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. More generally, other flexible structure designs may be configured using the teachings hereof and are thus intended to be included with the breadth of appropriate claims as set forth below. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive or limiting. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures.
Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, the protection afforded to this invention should be limited only by the claims set forth herein, and the legal equivalents thereof.
This application is a continuation of PCT/US2021/055471, filed on Oct. 18, 2021, and published as WIPO Publication No. WO 2022/086876 A1 on Apr. 28, 2022, entitled Reclosable Disposable Lid. That PCT application claimed priority under 35 USC. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/093,458 filed on Oct. 19, 2020 entitled Reclosable Disposable Lid. The disclosures of each of PCT/US2021/055471 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/093,458, are incorporated herein in their entirety including the specification, drawing, and claims, by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63093458 | Oct 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2021/055471 | Oct 2021 | US |
| Child | 18302345 | US |
