U.S. patent application number 10/005022 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-05 for disposable lid with cream and sugar port.
Invention is credited to Horner, Tom.
Application Number | 20030102312 10/005022 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21713731 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030102312 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horner, Tom |
June 5, 2003 |
Disposable lid with cream and sugar port
Abstract
A drink-through lid for a disposable cup that contains a
condiment port for the convenient addition of condiments to the
beverage without having to remove the lid from the cup. The
condiment port is on the opposite side of the lid from the drinking
port to insure that the beverage does not contact the condiment
port while the user is drinking out of the drinking port. When not
in use, the condiment port is substantially blocked by a resilient
cap that is integral with the cover. This cap can be selectively
deformed to open the condiment port and introduce condiments into
the beverage. The cap is biased to return to its original closed
position when the deforming pressure is removed. The cap preferably
forms a trough when deformed to help funnel the condiments into the
condiment port and help prevent spilling.
Inventors: |
Horner, Tom; (Mineral Wells,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Martin Korn
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
Suite 2200
2200 Ross Avenue
Dallas
TX
75201-6776
US
|
Family ID: |
21713731 |
Appl. No.: |
10/005022 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.3 ;
220/268; 220/713 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/06 20130101;
B65D 2543/00046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.3 ;
220/268; 220/713 |
International
Class: |
B65D 017/32; A47G
019/22 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lid for a cup comprising: a. a rim attachable to the cup which
prevents leakage of the cup's contents; b. a cover portion
extending contiguously inward of such rim; c. a drinking port in
the cover portion; d. a condiment port in the cover portion
opposite the drinking port that allows the user to add condiments
to the beverage without removing the lid, such condiment port being
substantially blocked when not in use by a resilient cap that is
integral with the cover portion, the cap being selectively
deformable by a user to open the condiment port sufficiently to
introduce condiments into the cup.
2. A lid according to claim 1 where the cap is defined by a slit in
the cover portion that creates an opening in the cover portion when
the cap is deformed by a user, said slit closing again when the
resilient cap is permitted to return to its original closed
position.
3. A lid according to claim 1 where there is a projection attached
to the cap such that pressure can be digitally applied to the
projection to deform the cap without obstructing condiments from
being introduced through the condiment port.
4. A lid according to claim 1 where the cap forms a trough when
deformed, said trough being angled toward the condiment port and
funnels the condiments through the condiment port.
5. A lid according to claim 1 that further comprises a recessed
well in the cover portion that contains the condiment port and the
cap such that no portion of the cap is above the cover portion.
6. A lid according to claim 1 where the cap comprises: a. Two
triangular sides that have a top edge in common; b. An end which is
triangular and shares a common edge with each of the two sides; c.
A slit shaped like an inverted V that cuts through the two
triangular sides and is proximate to the end, such that the slit
creates an opening in the cover when the cap is deformed and closes
again when the resilient cap is permitted to return to its original
position.
7. A lid according to claim 2 wherein the beverage inside the cup
forms a surface and where tilting the cup to drink out of the
drinking port increases the distance between the surface and the
slit.
8. A lid for a cup comprising: a. a rim attachable to the cup which
prevents leakage of the cup's contents; b. a cover portion
extending contiguously inward of such rim; c. a drinking port in
the cover portion; d. a condiment port in the cover portion
opposite the drinking port that allows the user to add condiments
to the beverage without removing the lid; e. a resilient cap that
is integral with the cover portion and substantially blocks the
condiment port when not in use, the cap being selectively
deformable by a user to open the condiment port and to form a
trough that is angled toward the condiment port and funnels
condiments through the condiment port.
9. A lid according to claim 8 where the cap is defined by a slit in
the cover portion that creates an opening in the cover portion when
the cap is deformed by the user, said slit closing again when the
resilient cap is permitted to return to its original closed
position.
10. A lid according to claim 8 that further comprises a recessed
well in the cover portion that contains the condiment port and the
cap such that no portion of the cap is above the cover portion.
11. A lid according to claim 8 where there is a projection attached
to the cap such that pressure can be digitally applied to the
projection to deform the cap without obstructing condiments from
being introduced through the condiment port.
12. A lid for a cup comprising: a. a rim attachable to the cup
which prevents leakage of the cup's contents; b. a cover portion
extending contiguously inward of such rim; c. a drinking port in
the cover portion; d. a condiment port in the cover portion
opposite the drinking port that allows the user to add condiments
to the beverage without removing the lid; e. a resilient cap that
is integral with the cover portion and that substantially blocks
the condiment port when not in use, the cap being selectively
deformable by a user to open the condiment port, such cap
comprising: i. two triangular sides that have a top edge in common;
ii. an end which is triangular and shares a common edge with each
of the two sides; iii. a slit in the shape of an inverted V that
cuts through the two triangular sides and is proximate to the end,
such that the slit creates an opening in the cover when the cap is
deformed, said slit closing again when the resilient cap is
permitted to return to its closed position.
13. A lid according to claim 12 where the sides of the cap are
biased to return the cap to its original closed position when the
deforming pressure is removed.
14. A lid according to claim 12 where the deformed cap creates a
trough that is angled toward the condiment port and funnels the
condiments through the condiment port.
15. A lid according to claim 12 wherein the beverage inside the cup
forms a surface and where tilting the cup to drink out of the
drinking port increases the distance between the surface and the
slit.
16. A lid for a cup comprising: a. a rim attachable to the cup
which prevents leakage of the cup's contents; b. a cover portion
extending contiguously inward of such rim; c. a drinking port in
the cover portion; d. a condiment port in the cover portion
opposite the drinking port that allows the user to add condiments
to the beverage without removing the lid, such condiment port being
substantially blocked when not in use by a resilient cap that is
integral with the cover, the cap being selectively deformable by a
user to open the condiment port sufficiently to introduce
condiments into the cup; e. a recessed well in the cover portion
that contains the condiment port and cap such that no portion of
the cap is above the cover portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to disposable lids for hot
beverage cups and, more particularly, to a disposable lid with a
condiment port allowing a user to add condiments to a beverage in
the cup without removing the lid and without increasing the risk of
liquid spillage.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Many lids have been proposed for disposable cups such as
those used at fast food restaurants. The cups are to a great extent
standardized and are of an inverted frustoconical shape. The lids
generally contain a channel that fits over the top rim of the cup
and provides a spill-proof seal as well as a horizontal cover that
extends over the opening of the cup. Such lids are typically made
of vacuum molded plastic and ideally can be nested for easy
transportation and storage prior to use.
[0005] Many variations to the lids are known to those in the field.
In some cases there is a side wall that raises the horizontal cover
above the height of the cup's rim. In other cases there are slits
to push a straw through the cover or bubbles in the cover that can
be depressed to signify the contents of the beverage. A common
variation is the presence of a drinking port that enables the user
to drink a hot beverage without having to remove the lid from the
cup. This prevents any spilling of the beverage even after
consumption has begun, and is especially beneficial in an unstable
situation such as while walking, driving or riding in a moving
vehicle.
[0006] Condiments are sometimes added to a beverage after the
beverage has been purchased and the lid put on. This is especially
true with hot beverages such as coffee, where cream and sugar are
often added by the consumer after its purchase. Having to remove
the lid in order to add the condiments minimizes some of the
benefits of the drink-through lid design. However, none of the
prior lids allows a user to conveniently add condiments to the
beverage without removing the lid.
[0007] Some prior lids, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,186,842, have two ports on opposite sides of the lid. One port is
designed as a drink through port and the other as a relief valve to
allow excess gas and steam to escape and to break the vacuum. This
second port is not large enough to introduce condiments into the
cup and cannot be opened independently of the drinking port.
Therefore, the disclosed lid is ill equipped to solve the problem
of adding condiments to a beverage without removing the lid.
[0008] Some other prior lids have a single port that is unsuitable
for the introduction of condiments into the cup. For example, the
lid disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,299, contains a well with a
raised multisided structure in the middle that contains eye-shaped
slits at the frangible corner edges of the raised structure. These
slits provided openings for the beverage to pass through the lid
but are not large enough to add condiments into the cup.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,880, discloses a drink-through lid
comprising a raised canopy that can be deformed to create a
vertical opening. This opening allows liquid through only when it
has horizontal as opposed to vertical motion. Having the opening in
a vertical plane, while being tremendously useful to prevent
spilling, also makes it very difficult to add condiments through
the port while the lid is on the cup.
[0010] Other previous lids, while providing a structure that allows
any excess beverage to reenter the cup, cannot handle sufficient
material for use in introducing condiments into the cup. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,582,214 discloses a lid that contains a well around the flap
in the lid that traps excess fluid close to the flap where it can
slowly drain back into the cup through the small opening left by
the closed slit. This is sufficient for a small amount of excess
fluid but is impractical for larger quantities of condiments,
viscous liquids or non-liquid condiments such as sugar.
[0011] Still other lids such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.:
5,799,814; 3,927,794; 4,210,256; 4,441,623; and 4,359,170, involve
the use of a flap that is either opened by applying pressure to the
lid or that can be placed into a static open position by the user.
While these patents have varying structures and do not place size
restrictions on the size of the tab, they still are unsuited to
condiment addition. If the flaps are made large enough to add
condiments through the lid conveniently, then they are too large
for allowing a user to easily drink out of the cup without creating
an unnecessary risk of spilling the beverage.
[0012] Another lid, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,843, comprises
a raised structure that can be inverted and partially separated in
order to provide a drinking port. This structure was alas designed
to minimize spilling while opening and drinking out of a cup. If
the structure is made large enough to add condiments into the cup,
then it becomes so large as to negate any advantage in preventing
the spillage of the beverage.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,752 discloses a drink-through lid that
allows the addition of condiments to the beverage through the
drinking port. However it does not allow the addition in such a
manner as to minimize the chance that the condiments will be
spilled. While the valve in the mouthpiece is disclosed as being
capable of opening sufficiently to introduce condiments into the
cup, it is primarily adapted to facilitate drinking out of the cup
without spilling. As a result, the user is required to add
condiments through a spout-like protrusion, with any condiment that
is not perfectly aimed landing on the lid of the cup and making a
mess.
[0014] In summary, the prior art lids still effectively require the
user to remove the lid in order to conveniently add condiments to
the beverage prior to its consumption. Having to remove and replace
these lids, especially while in a moving car or similarly less
stable situation, greatly increases the probability of spilling the
beverage, with associated risk of personal injury. A drink-through
lid is therefore needed that can allow a user to add condiments
easily to the beverage without having to remove the lid from the
cup and without increasing the risk of spilling the beverage in the
process. More specifically, a disposable drink-through cup lid is
needed that has a second port optimized for the introduction of
condiments into the cup through the lid and yet does not detract
from the spill resistant quality of the drink through lid
design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention comprises a drink-through disposable
cup lid that contains a condiment port optimized for the
introduction of condiments into a beverage. The subject lid allows
the user to conveniently add condiments without removing the lid,
which helps prevent spillage of the beverage. The condiment port is
on the opposite side of the lid from the drinking port. The
drinking port can be of any conventional design.
[0016] When it is not in use, the condiment port is substantially
blocked by a resilient cap that is unitarily formed as part of the
cover. The cap can be selectively deformed by the user to create an
opening sufficient to allow the introduction of condiments into the
cup. The cap is biased to return to its original closed position
when the deforming pressure is removed. This can be accomplished by
the shape of the cap, the use of stiffeners added between the edge
of the cap and the remainder of the lid, or the use of a rounded
joint where the cap meets the rest of the lid or other similarly
effective methods.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the
cap is deformed it forms a trough that is angled downwardly toward
the condiment port. This allows the cap to act as a funnel into the
condiment port and ensure that all the condiment that is added gets
directed through the condiment port. This trough allows the
condiment port to be smaller, which helps prevent spilling of the
beverage while still allowing convenient addition of condiments
without removing the cover.
[0018] Also, it is advantageous that the slit defining the
condiment port is oriented in such a way so that when the cup is
tipped to drink out of the drinking port, the distance between the
surface of the beverage and the slit increases. This can be done by
cutting the slit perpendicular to an imaginary line that runs
through the center of the lid between the drinking port and the
condiment port. This insures that the surface of the beverage never
contacts the slit during the normal tipping of the cup that is
associated with drinking the beverage out of the drinking port.
Therefore, it is much less likely that the beverage will spill out
of the condiment port during normal usage.
[0019] In accordance with the present invention, the subject lid is
easily formable using a single piece of vacuum molded plastic as is
common for disposable cup lids. Alternatively, the lids can be made
of injection molded plastic, or styrofoam, according to procedures
that are known in the art. In addition, lids containing the present
invention can be easily manufactured so that they can be nested
together for simplified transportation and storage prior to their
use on cups.
[0020] Some of the advantages of using a lid that has the current
invention are:
[0021] condiments can be conveniently added to a beverage without
having to remove the lid;
[0022] the resilient cap substantially blocks the condiment port
when not in use and thereby maintains the spill resistant character
of the drink through lid design;
[0023] the condiment port can be easily opened with one finger
leaving the other fingers and the remaining hand free to hold the
cup and add condiments;
[0024] the resilient cap is biased to return to its original closed
position, thereby making the condiment port self-closing;
[0025] the condiment port will snap shut if the cup is dropped
while in use, thereby preventing the contents from spilling;
[0026] the deformed cap can funnel the condiments through the
condiment port so that there is less of a chance of spilling the
condiments when trying to add them to the beverage; and
[0027] when the condiment port is recessed, another full cup can be
placed on the lid in order to make it easier to carry multiple full
cups at the same time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The invention is further described and explained in relation
to the following figures of the drawing wherein:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the invention on top of a disposable cup.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lid depicted in FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line
3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred
embodiment of the invention in place on top of a disposable cup,
where the cap covering the condiment port is partially recessed
below the level of the lid.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the second preferred embodiment
depicted in FIG. 4.
[0034] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line
6-6 of FIG. 5.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment
of the invention in place on top of a disposable cup, where the cap
covering the condiment port is completely recessed below the level
of the lid.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the third preferred embodiment
depicted in FIG. 7.
[0037] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the third
preferred embodiment taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred
embodiment of the invention in place on top of a disposable cup,
where the cap is totally recessed below the level of the lid and
has a projection on it.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the fourth preferred
embodiment depicted in FIG. 10.
[0040] FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the fourth
preferred embodiment taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, lid 20 comprises rim 22, cover
portion 24, drinking port 26, condiment port 28, resilient cap 30,
and stir stick slit 38. Lid 20 is preferably formed from a single
sheet of vacuum molded plastic, injection molded plastic or
styrofoam. Rim 22 is capable of securing lid 20 onto a disposable
cup 21 and providing a splash proof seal thereto. Drinking port 26
is designed to allow the user to drink the contents of disposable
cup 21 without having to remove lid 20, while at the same time
minimizing the chance that the contents of disposable cup 21 will
spill out drinking port 26 when it is not being used. Stir stick
slit 38 allows a stirring stick to pass through the lid so that the
contents of disposable cup 21 can be stirred together without
removing lid 20.
[0042] A resilient cap 30 covers condiment port 28. When external
pressure 34 is applied to resilient cap 30, the resilient cap is
deformed to form trough 32. This deformation opens up condiment
port 28 and allows the user to add condiments to disposable cup 21
without having to remove lid 20. Resilient cap 30 is biased so that
when external pressure 34 is removed, it will return to its
original position and block condiment port 28.
[0043] Resilient cap 30 is preferably comprised of two triangular
sides 42, which share a common edge with each other, and triangular
end 44, which shares a common edge with each of triangular sides
42. This forms a three-sided pyramidal structure with two of the
sides substantially longer than the other. There is a slit 36, in
the shape of an inverted V, along triangular sides 42 proximate to
where they meet triangular end 44. Slit 36 may alternately be
formed by the use of a score or embossed line on the cap or a
similarly effective method that is capable of creating a slit in
the cap when the condiment port is to be used. Slit 36 is
substantially closed when no pressure is being applied to resilient
cap 30. When external pressure 34 deforms resilient cap 30,
triangular sides 42 invert to form a V shaped trough 32 that is
angled down underneath triangular end 44 and the small pieces of
triangular sides 42 that are separated from the majority of
triangular sides 42 by slit 36. External pressure 34 also widens
slit 36 to form condiment port 28. In this condition, triangular
end 44, along with the small sections of triangular sides 42, is in
a position to prevent condiments from splashing up over the
condiment port as they flow down trough 32.
[0044] FIGS. 4-6 refer to a second preferred embodiment of the
current invention that comprises a rim, cover portion, stir stick
slit, and drinking port that is the same as the corresponding
elements described in relation to FIGS. 1-3. In addition, resilient
cap 52 is formed of two triangular sides and a triangular end, with
slit 60 forming an inverted V along the triangular sides in the
same manner as the corresponding elements described in relation to
FIGS. 1-3. In the second preferred embodiment resilient cap 52 is
partially recessed into recessed well 54. The recessed well aids in
the formation of trough 56 and condiment port 62 when external
pressure 58 is applied to resilient cap 52. Recessed well 54 also
helps to assure that the condiments that are being added stay
contained in trough 56 which helps prevent spillage.
[0045] FIGS. 7-9 refer to a third preferred embodiment of the
current invention that comprises a rim, slit, condiment port, stir
stick slit, and drinking port that are the same as the
corresponding elements described in relation to FIGS. 1-3. In
addition, resilient cap 74 comprises two triangular sides and a
triangular end with an inverted V slit which are the same as the
corresponding elements described in relation to FIGS. 1-3. In the
third preferred embodiment a recessed well 72 is deep enough that
the top of resilient cap 74 is even with or below the level of
cover portion 76. This allows recessed well 72 to more effectively
aid in the formation of trough 78 upon the application of external
pressure 80 and to help prevent spillage of the condiments as they
are being added through the condiment port. In addition, since no
part of resilient cap 74 is above the level of cover portion 76,
another full cup can be placed on top of the lid. This will
facilitate carrying of multiple cups at the same time.
[0046] FIGS. 10-12 refer to a fourth preferred embodiment of the
current invention that comprises a rim and stir stick slit that are
the same as the ones described in relation to FIGS. 1-3. In this
embodiment, resilient cap 92 is entirely recessed within recessed
well 94 and is formed integrally with the wall of recessed well 94.
There is also a second well 104 in cover portion 106 that is the
same size as the diameter of the bottom of the disposable cup. Well
104 contains drinking port 108, resilient cap 92, and recessed well
94. The purpose of well 104 is to provide additional stiffness to
the lid and to aid in the stacking of a full cup on top of the
lid.
[0047] In addition, there is a sidewall 114 that raises cover
portion 106 so that the bottom of recessed well 94 is still above
the level of the contents of the cup. Further, there is a
projection 96 located on resilient cap 92. Projection 96 is located
so that external pressure 98 can be digitally applied to the
projection in order to deform resilient cap 92 into trough 100
without obstructing the addition of condiments through condiment
port 102. Projection 96 is preferably formed so that it is flat or
otherwise comfortable for the user to apply pressure to it.
Finally, drinking port 108 is shown as the drink through port
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,880, issued to Homer. Drinking
port 108 is opened by applying external force 116.
[0048] In this embodiment there are still two triangular sides 110
that make up resilient cap 92. However, each triangular side 110
has an edge that adjoins the wall of recessed well 94, instead of a
triangular end such as triangular end 44 described in relation to
FIGS. 1-3. Slit 112 is still in the shape of an inverted V along
triangular sides 110 proximate to where they meet the wall of
recessed well 94. However, the space where the triangular end would
be if resilient cap 92 were a raised pyramidal structure as in the
previous embodiments now forms condiment port 102 when external
pressure 98 is applied to deform resilient cap 92 into trough
100.
[0049] Other alterations and modifications of the preferred
embodiment described above will become apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, and it is
intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be
limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims
to which the inventor is legally entitled.
* * * * *