STRAW CUP LID

Abstract

A straw cup lid is provided. The straw cup lid includes a lid and a water stopping member. A pivot hole is disposed on a lid upper surface while a pivot pin is protruding from a bottom of the water stopping member and mounted into the pivot hole to pivotally connect the water stopping member with the lid. A convection hole is located at the lid upper surface and adjacent to the pivot hole and penetrating the lid upper surface while a corresponding protruding block on the bottom of the water stopping member is engaged with the convection hole. The lid upper surface is concave to have a lower central area. A straw slot is on the lid for allowing a top of a straw to protrude therefrom. A water stopping plug on the bottom of the water stopping member is inserted into the straw.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cup lid, especially to a straw cup lid with a novel design,

Description of Related Art

According to reports, the amount of plastic straws used in Taiwan is about 3 million. The plastic straw features on light weight, easy accessibility, and small volume and they are usually thrown away after use. Thus the straws have become one of the 5 most common waste found on coastal cleanup activities throughout the years. Moreover, environmental groups have pressed the government to ban the use of plastic straws due to raising environmental awareness. The government's departments, schools, department stores and shopping center are not allowed to provide their customers single-use plastic straws due to upcoming government policy. Thus people in the related business replace the plastic straws with environmentally friendly straws including sugarcane straws, paper straws, stainless steel straws, and glass straws.

According to research results, 8.3 billion plastic straws are found along coastlines but it would only account for 0.03% of total marine litter. The plastic straw ban has only little effects on reduction of waste and plastic. Even the replacement of the plastic straw with the sugarcane straw, the paper straw, the stainless steel straw, or the glass straw is not so environmental friendly. Take the paper straw as an example, it is unable to be recycled once in contact with food. Each paper straw needs to be packed with plastic cover. Thus the environmental impact is indeed not reduced. As to the straw made of stainless steel or glass, the production process is energy-intensive and its carbon emissions are even higher than the plastic straw. For storage of the straw made of stainless steel or glass, plastic cases are manufactured. The phenomenon that more plastic produces are generated due to the plastic straw ban is quite ironic. Moreover, the straw made of metals or plastic has good strength but poses a risk of serious injuries if not used carefully.

Thus people in the related business have developed a drinking cup which includes a straw formed directly on a cup or a lid and made of the same material for the cup or the lid. Thus the straw is recycled together with the cup or the lid being recycled.

Refer to Taiwanese Pat. No. I690287B, a non-straw cup is revealed.

The non-straw cup mainly includes a lid and a main body. The lid is connected with the main body to form one part and is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise on the main body so that a tube of the lid is integrally connected with a straw of the main body anytime. Thus there is no need to use plastic straws. However, the connection between the tube of the lid and the straw of the main body should be airtight without any gap therebteween. Otherwise the user can't drink the beverage in the cup smoothly due to air entering the straw through the gap between the tube and the straw when a surface of the beverage is lower than a junction between the tube and the straw.

Also refer to Taiwanese Pat. Pub. No. 202005886A, an integrally-formed eco-friendly straw cup is revealed. In the integrally-formed eco-friendly straw cup, an axial curved body protruding inward is integrally an inner peripheral wall of the cup body so that a hollow portion is formed between the axial curved body and the inner peripheral wall. A bottom suction pore is formed at a bottom end of the hollow portion and located close to a bottom surface of a cup body while an upper suction pore is formed at a top end of the hollow portion and a surface of an edge of the cup body. Yet the upper suction pore is shielded by a lid due to its position when the cup body is covered with the lid and a built-in straw-like structure is unable to be used for drinking beverages. Thus the integrally-formed eco-friendly straw cup is inconvenient to use.

In order to drink beverages in cups, the straw is convenient and absolutely necessary. Thus there is room for improvement and there is a need to provide a novel lid which overcomes the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a straw cup lid which has an ergonomic suction port for allowing users to drink beverages more easily and smoothly without choking. At the same time, a convection hole is not exposed for aesthetic purpose and economic benefits of the straw cup lid are also increased.

In order to achieve the above objects, a straw cup lid according to the present invention includes a lid and a water stopping member.

The lid consists of a lid upper surface and a peripheral wall integrally connected with a periphery of the lid upper surface and extending downward. The lid upper surface is concave downward from the periphery where the lid upper surface and the peripheral wall are integrally connected to form a depression whose central area is lower than surrounding area. The lid upper surface is also concave in a radial direction of the lid to form a notch on the peripheral wall correspondingly and thus a straw slot is defined. The straw slot allows a suction port on a top of a straw of a cup to be mounted therein and protrude therefrom. A pivot hole and a convection hole are mounted on the lid upper surface. The convection hole is located adjacent to the pivot hole and penetrating the lid upper surface.

A pivot pin is protruding from a bottom surface of the water stopping member and corresponding to the pivot hole. The water stopping member is pivotally arranged at the lid by the pivot pin pivotally mounted into the pivot hole. The bottom surface of the water stopping member is further provided with a protruding block located adjacent to the pivot pin and engaged with the convection hole. A water stopping plug is protruding from the bottom surface of the water stopping member along an axial direction of the cup and inserted into the suction port on the top of the straw correspondingly.

Preferably, the convection hole on the lid upper surface is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member rotated around a central axis of the pivot hole. Thus the convection hole is shielded by the water stopping member.

Preferably, a leak-proof protrusion is radially arranged at an outer surface of the water stopping plug.

Preferably, an edge at one end of the water stopping member with the water stopping plug is extended outward and tilted to form a flip portion.

Preferably, a shield portion is extended downward from a bottom surface of the flip portion and attached to an outer surface of the straw protruding from the straw slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a straw cup lid and a cup of an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a straw cup lid assembled with a cup of an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment in a sealing status according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 3 according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment in which a water stopping plug of a water stopping member is released from a suction port of a straw of an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of an embodiment in which a protruding block of a water stopping member is abutting against a surface of a lid according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing a user drinking content in a cup of an embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to learn technical content, purposes and functions of the present invention more clearly and completely, please refer to the following detailed descriptions with the figures and reference signs.

Refer to FIG. 1-4, a straw cup lid according to the present invention mainly includes a lid 1 and a water stopping member 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 1 is composed of a lid upper surface 11, a peripheral wall 12 integrally connected with a periphery of the lid upper surface 11 and extending downward along a central axis of the lid 1, a straw slot 13 allowing a suction port 311 on a top of a straw 31 of a cup 3 to be mounted therein and protrude therefrom, a pivot hole 14 disposed on the lid upper surface 11, and a convection hole 15 mounted on the lid upper surface 11. The lid upper surface 11 is concave downward from the periphery (where the lid upper surface 11 and the peripheral wall 12 are integrally connected) along the central axis of the lid 1 to form a depression whose central area is lower than surrounding area. The lid upper surface 11 is also concave in a radial direction of the lid 1 to form a notch on the peripheral wall 12 correspondingly and thus the straw slot 13 is defined. The convection hole 15 is penetrating the lid upper surface 11 and located adjacent to the pivot hole 14.

The water stopping member 2 consists of a pivot pin 21 protruding from a bottom surface of the water stopping member 2 and corresponding to the pivot hole 14 of the lid 1, a protruding block 22 located on the bottom surface of the water stopping member 2 and adjacent to the pivot pin 21, and a water stopping plug 23 protruding from the bottom surface of the water stopping member 2 along an axial direction of the cup 3. The pivot pin 21 is pivotally arranged into the pivot hole 14 for pivotally connecting the water stopping member 2 with the lid 1 and the water stopping member 2 can rotate around a central axis of the pivot hole 14 on the lid 1. The protruding block 22 is mounted into the convection hole 15 of the lid 1 correspondingly while the water stopping plug 23 is inserted into the suction port 311 on the top of the straw 31 of the cup 3.

In this embodiment, the straw 31 and the cup 3 are integrated into one part and the straw 31 is arranged at a peripheral wall of the cup 3.

Also refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the cup 3 is covered with the lid 1 of the straw cup lid, the peripheral wall 12 of the lid 1 is mounted into the cup 3 and attached to an inner surface of the cup 3 tightly. At the moment, the suction port 311 on the top of the straw 31 of the cup 3 is protruding a bit from the straw slot 13 of the lid 1 while the protruding block 22 of the water stopping member 2 is mounted into the convection hole 15 of the lid 1. Thus content in the cup 3 will not flow out from the suction port 311 of the straw 31 or the convection hole 15 due to the water stopping plug 23 of the water stopping member 2 fit into the suction port 311 on the top of the straw 31 and the protruding block 22 mounted into the convection hole 15 in normal times. When users intend to drink the content in the cup 3, flip and rotate the water stopping member 2 an angle around the pivot hole 14, as shown in FIG. 5-7. When the protruding block 22 is released from the convection hole 15 and moved to abut against an upper surface of the lid upper surface 11, the water stopping member 2 is lifted so that a gap is formed between the water stopping member 2 and the lid upper surface 11 to keep the convection hole 15 open. The water stopping plug 23 of the water stopping member 2 is also released from the suction port 311 on the top of the straw 31 for allowing the user to drink the content in the cup 3 through the suction port 311 which is protruding a bit from the lid 1 and thus a more labor-saving and smooth sucking process is provided. After drinking the beverage, the water stopping member 2 is pulled and rotated to make the water stopping plug 23 return into the suction port 311 on the top of the straw 31. As to the convection hole 15 mounted on the lid upper surface 11, it is used for balancing pressure inside and outside the cup 3 while the user is sipping the content inside the cup 3 and thus the sucking process is easier and smoother.

Moreover, owing to that the lid upper surface 11 which is the depression having central area lower than surrounding area in combination with the protruding straw 31, the straw 31 is inclined to an axis of the oral cavity naturally (as shown in FIG. 7) and an ergonomic angle of the content sucked is formed for providing buffering effect and preventing the user from choking when the user closes the mouth around the suction port 311 of the straw 31 and sucks the content in the cup 3. A taste of the content (beverage) is even better.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the convection hole 15 on the lid upper surface 11 is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member 2 rotated around the central axis of the pivot hole 14. That means the minimum distance H between a central axis of the pivot pin 21 and an edge of the water stopping member 2 is larger than a distance h between the central axis of the pivot hole 14 and the convection hole 15. Thereby the convection hole 15 is shielded and hidden no matter which angle the water stopping member 2 is rotated to.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, in a preferred embodiment, a leak-proof protrusion 231 is radially arranged at an outer surface of the water stopping plug 23. The arrangement of the leak-proof protrusion 231 makes connection between the water stopping plug 23 and an inner surface of the suction port 311 on the top of the straw 31 become closer.

In a preferred embodiment, an edge at one end of the water stopping member 2 with the water stopping plug 23 is extended outward and tilted to form a flip portion 24 for allowing the user to release the water stopping plug 23 of the water stopping member 2 from the suction port 311 easier.

In a preferred embodiment, a shield portion 25 is extended downward from a bottom surface of the flip portion 24 and attached to an outer surface of the straw 31 protruding from the straw slot 13.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.

Claims

1. A straw cup lid comprising a lid and a water stopping member; wherein the lid includes a lid upper surface, a peripheral wall integrally connected with a periphery of the lid upper surface and extending downward, a pivot hole mounted on the lid upper surface, and a convection hole which is disposed on the lid upper surface, located adjacent to the pivot hole, and penetrating the lid upper surface;wherein the water stopping member is provided with a pivot pin protruding from a bottom surface thereof and a protruding block arranged at the bottom surface of the water stopping member; the water stopping member is pivotally arranged at the lid by the pivot pin corresponding to and pivotally mounted in the pivot hole; the protruding block is located adjacent to the pivot pin and engaged with the convection hole.

2. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid upper surface is concave downward from the periphery thereof connected with the peripheral wall to form a depression whose central area is lower than surrounding area.

3. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lid upper surface is concave in a radial direction of the lid to form a notch on the peripheral wall correspondingly and thus a straw slot is defined by the notch; the straw slot allows a suction port on a top of a straw of a cup to be mounted therein and protrude therefrom; wherein a water stopping plug protrudes from the bottom surface of the water stopping member along an axial direction of the cup and inserted into the suction port on the top of the straw correspondingly.

4. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 3, wherein a leak-proof protrusion is radially arranged at an outer surface of the water stopping plug.

5. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 4, wherein an edge at one end of the water stopping member with the water stopping plug is extended outward and tilted to form a flip portion.

6. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 5, wherein a shield portion is extended downward from a bottom surface of the flip portion and attached to an outer surface of the straw protruding from the straw slot.

7. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the convection hole on the lid upper surface is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member rotated around a central axis of the pivot hole so that the convection hole is shielded by the water stopping member.

8. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the convection hole on the lid upper surface is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member rotated around a central axis of the pivot hole so that the convection hole is shielded by the water stopping member.

9. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the convection hole on the lid upper surface is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member rotated around a central axis of the pivot hole so that the convection hole is shielded by the water stopping member.

10. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 4, wherein the convection hole on the lid upper surface is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member rotated around a central axis of the pivot hole so that the convection hole is shielded by the water stopping member.

11. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 5, wherein the convection hole on the lid upper surface is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member rotated around a central axis of the pivot hole so that the convection hole is shielded by the water stopping member.

12. The straw cup lid as claimed in claim 6, wherein the convection hole on the lid upper surface is located within an area covered by movement of the water stopping member rotated around a central axis of the pivot hole so that the convection hole is shielded by the water stopping member.