U.S. patent application number 10/799224 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-16 for disposable cup lid with integral toothpick.
Invention is credited to Stroup, David L..
Application Number | 20040178199 10/799224 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32965693 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040178199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stroup, David L. |
September 16, 2004 |
Disposable cup lid with integral toothpick
Abstract
A disposable cup lid (such as those used to seal the tops of
cups used to dispense drinks in restaurants) has a toothpick
retention portion integrally formed therewith configured to
releasably retain a toothpick. The disposable cup lid may take
several forms such as for various types for hot and cold drink
cups. In one form, the toothpick is contained within a recess in
the cup lid and attached thereto by means of a securing slit.
Pulling the toothpick away from the lid causes its release from the
securing slit so that the toothpick may be used. The securing slit
also allows return receipt of the used toothpick for disposal with
the cup lid or storage for later use. The cup lid is preferably
formed of a disposable material such as plastic. Of course, other
materials suitable to carry out the principles of the present
invention may be used.
Inventors: |
Stroup, David L.;
(Indianapolis, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BOWMAN & ASSOCIATES
1016 3RD AVENUE SW, SUITE 205
CARMEL
IN
46032
US
|
Family ID: |
32965693 |
Appl. No.: |
10/799224 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60454098 |
Mar 12, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 ;
220/521; 220/713; 220/735 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 21/12 20130101;
B65D 51/24 20130101; B65D 2231/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 ;
220/521; 220/713; 220/735 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/22 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cup lid comprising: a cup lid body; and a toothpick releasably
retained by said cup lid body.
2. The cup lid of claim 1, wherein said toothpick is releasably
retained in a pocket that is integrally formed in said cup lid
body.
3. The cup lid of claim 2, wherein a retention mechanism is formed
in said pocket and is dimensioned to releasably hold the toothpick
within said pocket.
4. The cup lid of claim 3, wherein said retention mechanism is
formed of one or more flexible configured ridges.
5. The cup lid of claim 2, further comprising an egress depression
formed on one side of said pocket.
6. The cup lid of claim 1, wherein said cup lid body is formed of
plastic.
7. A cup lid comprising: a cup lid body; an elongated linear pocket
integrally formed in said cup lid body and dimensioned to
accommodate a toothpick therein; and a toothpick retention
mechanism formed in said cup lid body adjacent said elongated
linear pocket and dimensioned to hold the toothpick within the
elongated linear pocket.
8. The cup lid of claim 7, wherein said cup lid body is formed of
plastic.
9. The cup lid of claim 7, wherein said toothpick retention
mechanism is formed of one or more configured ridges extending into
said elongated linear pocket.
10. The cup lid of claim 9, wherein said one or more configured
ridges are flexible.
11. The cup lid of claim 7, wherein said toothpick retention
mechanism retains a portion of the toothpick while holding the
toothpick within said elongated linear pocket.
12. The cup lid of claim 7, further comprising an egress depression
formed on one side of said elongated linear pocket.
13. A cup lid comprising: a cup lid body; a recess formed in said
cup lid body and having a generally arcuate bottom surface, said
recess formed as one piece with said cup lid body; and a toothpick
retention mechanism formed in said recess and dimensioned to hold
the toothpick within said recess.
14. The cup lid of claim 13, wherein said cup lid body is formed of
plastic.
15. The cup lid of claim 13, wherein said toothpick retention
mechanism is formed of one or more configured ridges extending into
said recess.
16. The cup lid of claim 15, wherein said one or more configured
ridges are flexible.
17. The cup lid of claim 13, wherein said toothpick retention
mechanism retains a portion of the toothpick while holding the
toothpick within said recess.
18. The cup lid of claim 13, further comprising an egress
depression formed on one end of said recess.
Description
[0001] This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims the
benefit of and/or priority to U.S. provisional patent application
serial No. 60/454,098 filed on Mar. 12, 2003 entitled "Disposable
Dinnerware With Integral Toothpick", the entire contents of which
is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to disposable drink
cup lids and, more particularly, to disposable cup lids having an
integral toothpick formed therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known in restaurants and other places of public
accommodation to provide toothpicks for the use of patrons. Such
toothpicks are usually, but not necessarily, individually sealed in
plastic or paper and placed in a small jar or other dispenser for
the convenience of patrons. In some situations, the prior art
method of dispensing toothpicks to the public is found to be
inconvenient.
[0004] For example, in many restaurants toothpicks are not provided
at the table, but rather are dispensed at a central location, such
as the hostess stand or cash register. As a result, some patrons
may forget to take a toothpick with them when they leave or may be
unaware of the location of the toothpick dispenser.
[0005] Furthermore, diners at fast-food restaurants (particularly
when using the drive-through window) are generally not provided
with toothpicks. Moreover, because toothpicks are inherently small
in nature, they are likely to get lost if they are even provided to
the patron. They are also an added expense for the business
owner.
[0006] There is therefore a need for a convenient manner of
providing toothpicks to diners. The present invention is directed
toward meeting this need. This need and others are accomplished
through application of the principles of the subject invention
and/or as embodied in one or more various forms and/or structures
such as are shown and/or described herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to disposable cup lids (such
as those used to seal the tops of cups used to dispense drinks in
restaurants) having a toothpick retention portion integrally formed
therewith. The toothpick retention portion is configured to
releasably retain a toothpick. The disposable cup lid may take
several forms such as for various types for hot and cold drink
cups.
[0008] In one form of the present invention, the toothpick is
contained within a recess in the cup lid and attached thereto by
means of a securing slit. Pulling the toothpick away from the lid
causes its release from the securing slit so that the toothpick may
be used. The securing slit also allows return receipt of the used
toothpick for disposal with the cup lid or storage for later
use.
[0009] The cup lid is preferably formed of a disposable material
such as plastic. Of course, other materials suitable to carry out
the principles of the present invention may be used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a
cup lid supporting a toothpick in accordance with the principles of
the subject invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the preferred
embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the preferred
embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along section line 3-3.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of
a cup lid supporting a toothpick in accordance with the principles
of the subject invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the subject invention, reference will now be made to
the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language
will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is
thereby intended, and alterations and/or modifications in the
illustrated devices, and further applications of the principles of
the invention as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as
would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the
invention pertains.
[0015] A first exemplary embodiment of a cup lid in accordance with
the principles of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1,
2 and 3 and indicated generally at 10. As will be familiar to those
skilled in the art, the cup lid 10 is of the type typically
manufactured from plastic and used to seal the top of a typically
disposable cup containing a liquid drink. Although a specific cup
lid design is illustrated in the figures, the present invention
comprehends say type of cup lid design that would include the
present novel toothpick holder or retainer of the present
invention. As such, a drink lid in accordance with the principles
of the present invention may be configured for use in containing
hot beverages such as coffee within a hot beverage cup, or it may
be configured for use in containing cold or lukewarm beverages such
as soda within a cold or lukewarm beverage cup. The cup lid is
preferable formed from plastic or other suitable material that can
carry out the principles of the present invention.
[0016] The cup lid 10 is defined by a body 11 generally shaped as
shown. The body 11 includes a pocket, trough, slot, slit or the
like (collectively, pocket) 12 formed therein. The pocket 12 is
preferably formed integral with the body 11 during the molding or
manufacturing process used to form the cup lid 10. The
configuration of the pocket 12 is such as to accommodate a
toothpick. As such, the pocket 12 is generally elongated in the
direction of the plane of the lid body 11 and defines a linear axis
along the same direction. The pocket 12 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 as
generally rectangular-shaped with respect to the plane of the lid
body 11, but may take other shapes that are non-rectangular such as
ovoid or the like. A cross-section of the depth dimension of the
pocket 12 is shown in FIG. 3 and is thus preferably arcuate-shaped.
Again, other shapes may be used if desired. A rounded or arcuate
shape is preferable from a molding standpoint. Various
configurations/dimensions are contemplated that may retain, stow,
store, hold or accommodate a toothpick.
[0017] At some point along its length of the pocket 12 is a
retention mechanism or device 15 that is adapted, configured and/or
operable to releasably retain a toothpick within the pocket 12. The
retention mechanism 15 is preferably embodied as one or more
ridges, protrusions, ledges, or the like 14 (collectively, ridges).
The ridges 14 are preferably molded integral with the cup lid 10
(body 11 and pocket 12), providing at least a partial barrier to
access to the pocket 12. In a preferred embodiment, two such ridges
14 are provided in opposing relationship each of which is generally
arc-shaped. It should be appreciated that the retention mechanism
15 may be provided through one or more ridges 14. Moreover, more
than one retention mechanism may be provided along the length of
the pocket 12.
[0018] A slit, slot or the like 16 (collectively, slit) is formed
between the two ridges 14. Alternatively, the slit 16 could be
formed between an edge of a single ridge 14 and an edge of the
pocket 12 (in a single ridge embodiment of a retention mechanism,
not shown). The pocket 12 is formed to a convenient size to contain
a toothpick 18 therein. The slit 16 is configured to receive and/or
accommodate the cross-sectional dimensions of a toothpick 18. Thus,
while a round (in cross-section) toothpick 18 is shown within the
slit 16, at least a portion of the slit 16 may be formed to
accommodate a square (in cross-section) or other shape (in
cross-section) for the toothpick. Particularly, the slit 16 is
formed of an ingress and egress portion and a retention portion
each of which is dimensioned accordingly.
[0019] Because of a semi-flexible nature of the ridges 14, the
ridges 14 will flex in a direction that causes the ingress and
egress portion of the slit 16 to widen when a toothpick 18 is
pressed into the slit 16. Similarly, the ridges 14 will return
substantially to their original configuration after the
flex-inducing force of the toothpick 18 is removed (as when the
toothpick is fully received into the retention portion of the slit
16, or as when the toothpick has been removed from the retention
portion of the slit 16), thus returning the slit 16 (ingress/egress
portion) to roughly its original dimensions.
[0020] By forming the cup lid 10 such that the slit 16 has a width
smaller than the nominal width of the toothpick 18, the toothpick
18 will be retained in the pocket 12 until it is pulled therefrom
causing the toothpick 18 to press upon the slit 16. This may be
conveniently accomplished by applying pressure on the opposite side
of the cup lid 10 underneath the toothpick 18. Similarly, the
toothpick 18 may be placed into the pocket 12 by applying pressure
from above while the toothpick 18 is positioned on top of the slit
16. Toothpicks for use with the present invention may be formed
from any suitable material, such as wood or plastic.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, there is depicted an alternative or
second embodiment of a cup lid generally designated 10a. The cup
lid 10a includes most, if not all, of the features of the cup lid
10. As such, like features have the same numeral but with an "a"
designation. These features are discussed above.
[0022] The cup lid 10a includes a pocket 12a that is generally in
the same shape or configuration as its counterpart pocket 12 and
may be dimensioned as indicated with respect to pocket 12. Pocket
12a, however, includes an ovoid depression 20 at one end thereof
for receipt of a fingertip, instrument or the like. The ovoid
depression 20 may also be placed between the end of the pocket 12a
and the slit/retention mechanism 16a. Moreover, it should be
appreciated that the other end of the pocket 12a may include a like
ovoid depression if desired (but not shown). The ovoid depression
20 is preferably dimensioned to accommodate a fingertip. Thus, a
user can press down the toothpick 18a within the ovoid depression
area 20 to cause the other end of the toothpick 18a to rise up from
the pocket 12a. The ovoid depression 20 allows easy egress of the
toothpick 18a.
[0023] It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in
the art that the present cup lid with an integral
toothpick/toothpick retainer provides great convenience to a user
by supplying a toothpick with a drink.
[0024] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown
and described and that all changes and/or modifications that come
within the spirit of the invention are described and protected.
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