U.S. patent application number 10/714728 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for drink-through lid seal and method of use.
Invention is credited to Charnos, Suzanne L., Ryan, Kyle A..
Application Number | 20040094549 10/714728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27610224 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040094549 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ryan, Kyle A. ; et
al. |
May 20, 2004 |
Drink-through lid seal and method of use
Abstract
A seal for use with a drink-through beverage lid, comprising a
generally flat plate and a projection. When attached to a lid, the
projection mates with an opening in the drink-through lid, commonly
at the top of a drinking spout. The projection seals the opening,
preventing spillage during transport. The seal is easily removable
by grasping the plate and pulling it away from the lid.
Inventors: |
Ryan, Kyle A.; (Seattle,
WA) ; Charnos, Suzanne L.; (Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLACK LOWE & GRAHAM, PLLC
701 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 4800
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Family ID: |
27610224 |
Appl. No.: |
10/714728 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10714728 |
Nov 17, 2003 |
|
|
|
10061980 |
Jan 31, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.1 ;
220/375; 220/711 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00046
20130101; B65D 2543/00351 20130101; B65D 51/007 20130101; B65D
55/16 20130101; B65D 51/245 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101;
B65D 47/121 20130101; B65D 2205/02 20130101; B65D 2203/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.1 ;
220/711; 220/375 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/22 |
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method for sealing a cup lid, comprising: providing a beverage
cup; placing a lid on the cup, the lid having a spout with an
opening to allow a beverage to be consumed through the lid;
selecting a seal from a plurality of interchangeable seals, each of
the seals having a plate with an upper surface, a lower surface,
and a projection attached to and extending away from the lower
surface of the plate, the plate being sized such that at least a
portion of the plate extends beyond a top edge of the spout when
the seal is attached to the lid, the projection being configured to
be insertable into the drink-through opening to prevent liquid
within the cup from leaking through the drink-through opening when
the projection is inserted into the drink-through opening, and
further wherein the seal is fully separated from the lid and
disposable when the projection is not inserted into the opening;
and inserting the projection into the lid opening.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling the cup with a
beverage before placing the lid on the cup.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of seals comprise a
plurality of indicia, and wherein the seal is selected based on an
association between the indicia and the beverage.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the indicia
comprises a logo.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the indicia
comprises a marking associated with the beverage.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the indicia
comprises a color associated with the beverage.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of seals are formed
in a plurality of different colors.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the plate
for at least some of the plurality of seals is triangular in
shape.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the seal further comprises an
indicia attached to the upper surface of the plate and a cover
removably attached to the upper surface of the plate, wherein the
cover hides the indicia from view when the cover is attached to the
plate.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia indicates whether a
consumer has won a prize.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia comprises a
logo.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia comprises a
coupon.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia comprises a
promotional message.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the seal further
comprises a consumer of the beverage selecting the seal from a
container holding a plurality of seals.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/061,980, filed Jan. 31, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to disposable beverage
container lids and, more specifically, to devices for sealing such
lids to prevent spillage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Coffee shops, take-out restaurants, and other establishments
commonly serve beverages in disposable cups having plastic lids. In
most cases, the lids include an opening allowing the consumer to
drink the beverage through the lid, without removing it. Examples
of such lids are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,569
to Clements; U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,583 to Montemarano, and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,253,781 to Van Melle et al.
[0004] The various lids address a variety of concerns, such as the
ideal shape of a lid to accommodate a typical human mouth or the
extent to which the lid should be raised to allow for beverages
topped with whipped cream or foam, but they do not adequately
address the problem of spillage that comes with such lids.
[0005] Common to all of the drink-through lids is the inclusion of
an opening to allow the beverage to be consumed through the lid.
While the opening makes it convenient to drink the beverage without
removing the lid, it also makes the beverage prone to spillage when
transporting it from the point of purchase to any other
location.
[0006] Consequently, there is a need for a device that is able to
seal beverage lids to prevent spillage without detracting from the
convenience of a drink-through beverage lid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention comprises a cover for a drink-through
beverage cup lid. In a preferred embodiment, the invention
comprises a substantially flat plate having a generally orthogonal
projection that is sized and shaped to extend into the opening of a
typical drink-through lid. The seal is inserted into the lid during
transport, and is easily removable to allow the beverage to be
consumed.
[0008] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the cup
seal may be either attached to the drink-through lid, detachable
from the lid, or produced as a separate component.
[0009] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the seal
may take other forms, including that of a lid having the same
general shape as a drink-through lid but without a drink-through
opening. In this embodiment, the seal is placed over the entire
drink-through lid to prevent spillage.
[0010] In accordance with still further aspects of the invention,
the seal plate can be somewhat larger than the raised portion of
the drink-through lid so that it can be easily removed.
[0011] In accordance with yet other aspects of the invention, the
seal is made from a flexible material.
[0012] In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a
surface of the seal includes a space for a logo, advertisement, or
removable sticker that can be used to reveal game prize
winners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
invention are described in detail below with reference to the
following drawings.
[0014] FIGS. 1A-B are perspective views of a preferred cup seal in
use with a drinking cup and drink-through lid;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for
a cup seal in use with a drinking cup and drink-through lid;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for
a cup seal in use with a drinking cup and drink-through lid;
and
[0017] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram for a preferred method of using a
cup seal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates a cup 10 having a removable
drink-through lid 20. The lid 20 is removable, and includes a
raised drink-through spout 22 having an opening 26. The beverage in
the cup 10 may be consumed directly through the opening 26 or
through a straw inserted into the opening 26. The lid 20 also
includes a raised portion 24 to allow the lid to accommodate
beverages with foam or other toppings. A small vent 28 is included
on the raised portion 28 to allow for the flow of air when
drinking.
[0019] The lid 20 may differ from that illustrated in FIG. 1A,
consistent with this invention. For example, the lid need not
include a spout 22, raised portion 24, or vent 28. Likewise, the
spout can take any shape other than that illustrated, so long as it
also includes a drink-through opening. For that matter, the
drink-through opening need not be on a raised spout, but rather can
reside on a generally flat lid or on a recessed portion of a lid.
An example of an alternative form of cup lid is shown in FIG. 1B.
The lid of FIG. 1B includes a rim 27, a trough 29, and an
oval-shaped opening 26. Unlike the lid of FIG. 1A, the lid of FIG.
1B incorporates the spout within the rim 27.
[0020] Further, the lid 20 illustrated in FIG. 1A is the type
typically used with disposable cups. As yet another alternative,
the lid 20 can be a re-useable lid such as that on a non-disposable
commuter mug.
[0021] The seal 30 includes a generally flat plate 32 having an
orthogonal projection 34. The plate 32 is sized and shaped to
generally cover the top of the spout 22 of the lid 20. Likewise,
the projection 34 has a cross-sectional shape (in a plane
substantially parallel to the plate 32) that substantially matches
the shape of the opening 26. As shown in FIG. 1A, the projection
and opening are round. In other embodiments, the projection 34 has
an oval cross-section or any other shape to correspond to the
expected shape of a drink-through lid opening, such as the oval
opening 26 in the lid of FIG. 1B. The projection need not have any
specific length, but it preferably is capable of extending through
the opening 26 sufficiently far to seal the opening and to
frictionally retain the seal 30 on the spout 22. Likewise, although
the projection is shown as having sidewalls that are substantially
parallel (forming a cylinder in FIG. 1A), they may be tapered to
enhance the ability of the seal to be retained within the spout and
also to allow a single seal 30 to accommodate lids 20 having
openings of different sizes. Such a projection is tapered so that
it has a larger circumference at the end adjacent the plate 32 and
a smaller circumference at the end opposite the plate 32.
[0022] The plate 32 is preferably shaped to extend at least
partially beyond the top edge of the spout 22 to facilitate easy
removal. Because it is preferably constructed from rubber or other
flexible materials, this shape allows the seal 30 to be grasped and
pried upward for removal. It may, however, be formed of any
materials, including plastic (hollow or solid), wood, cork, or
others. Accordingly, as depicted in FIG. 1A, the preferred shape is
triangular with rounded corners. As an alternative, the plate 30
can be in the shape of a coffee bean or other object indicative of
the beverage or store selling it. Any other shape will work,
however, so long as the seal 30 is removable and will close the
opening 26. At one extreme, the plate 32 is not used at all. In
such an embodiment, the projection is extendible downward into the
lid, while another projection remains above the lid when the seal
is in place, providing a means for grasping the seal for
removal.
[0023] The seal 30 can be formed in any color, and is preferably
constructed of rubber or other material. By using a variety of
colors, coffee houses can color-code the drinks they sell by, for
example, using a black seal for black coffee, a brown seal for a
mocha, and other colors to represent other aspects. Likewise, the
substantially flat top surface of the plate 32 can be used for
trademarks, logos, or other indicia.
[0024] The top surface of the plate 30 can alternatively include a
peel-off sticker so that the seal 30 can be used as a promotional
game piece. Removing the sticker reveals the results (e.g., instant
winner, try again, etc.) that are printed on or attached to the top
surface of the plate 30.
[0025] An alternate embodiment of the lid seal 30 is depicted in
FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the seal 30 is attached to the lid 20
via an arm 36. Because the arm 36 is attached to the lid 20, it is
preferable to manufacture it from the same material rather than to
make it separately and attach it. Typical lids are made from a
relatively thin plastic that is sufficiently flexible (either
naturally or by the use of perforations, scoring or other means)
that the arm 36 can be extended upward to engage the seal 30 with
the opening 26. To facilitate drinking, the seal 30 is removed and
allowed to extend downward. The inclusion of the arm 36 retains the
seal so that it does not fall to the ground and need not be held
separately while drinking. While the arm 36 is shown as extending
from a lower edge of the lid 10, it can be attached to the lid at
any point so long as the arm 36 allows the seal to reach the
opening 26. Likewise, the arm 36 can be any length, so long as the
seal is capable of reaching the opening 26.
[0026] Yet another embodiment is depicted in FIG. 3. In this
embodiment, the seal takes the form of a lid cover 40. The lid
cover 40 is sized and shaped to fully cover an existing
drink-through lid, and therefore (for a lid such as that of FIG.
1A) includes a raised section and spout, as appropriate. An annular
lid-engaging section 46 connects with a corresponding section on
the drink-through lid 20. The principal difference, however, is
that the lid cover has no opening such as the opening 26 found in
the drink-through lid. Thus, by attaching the lid cover 40 to the
lid 20, the opening 26 is sealed, preventing spillage.
[0027] In one form of the lid cover 40, the lid cover also includes
a projection 42 extending downward from the top of the spout
section 44 of the lid cover 40. When the lid cover 40 is placed
over the lid 20, the projection 42 mates with the opening 26 to
form a relatively tight seal. In this form of the embodiment, the
projection 42 prevents leakage between the lid 20 and lid cover 40,
keeping the lid 20 relatively clean during transport.
[0028] FIG. 4 depicts a preferred method of using a lid seal. The
method begins by providing a beverage cup 102 such as the cup 10
depicted in FIG. 1. The cup is then filled 104 with a beverage such
as coffee, tea, juice, or any other liquid. Once filled, the lid 20
is placed on the cup 106. The lid includes a drink-through spout so
that it generally encloses the cup except for the drink-through
spout 26.
[0029] In order to seal the cup, a seal 30 is placed on the lid to
seal it and prevent spillage. Thus, in block 108 an appropriate
seal is chosen from a plurality of seals designed to enclose a
drink-through opening. The seals are interchangeable, so that any
one of the plurality of seals will suffice. In various alternate
embodiments, as described above, the selection of a particular seal
may be based on a color coding (e.g., different colors depending on
the particular beverage in the cup), use of logos, or other
aspects. Thus, in this form, any cup, lid, and seal may be combined
and a particular combination may be made as a function of the
beverage in the cup. Alternatively, a bin of seals may be placed in
a location accessibly by consumers of the beverages, so that
consumers can optionally select a seal if desired. Once the seal is
chosen, it is placed on the lid 110 to seal the cup.
[0030] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the
disclosure of the preferred embodiment.
* * * * *