U.S. patent application number 10/392108 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-23 for disposable drink cup lid with a condiment resevoir.
Invention is credited to Scott, Tom.
Application Number | 20040182862 10/392108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32987834 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040182862 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scott, Tom |
September 23, 2004 |
Disposable drink cup lid with a condiment resevoir
Abstract
The invention provides for a disposable container lid (200)
adapted to fit over of the opening (208) of a disposable beverage
cup (210) or other container. The container lid (200) generally
comprises a reservoir (204), a thermal insulating layer (300)
disposed on a floor (207) of said reservoir (204), and an orifice
(202) that accommodates a straw. In one embodiment, the circular
container lid (200) advantageously prevents the contents of a
condiment package from quickly assuming the temperature of the
liquid inside the disposable beverage cup (210). In another
embodiment, the container lid (200) includes an adhesive means,
such as a pair of sticky patches (302) and (304) that firmly holds
the condiment package in place in the reservoir (204).
Inventors: |
Scott, Tom; (Dallas,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven Thrasher
391 Sandhill Dr.
Richardson
TX
75080
US
|
Family ID: |
32987834 |
Appl. No.: |
10/392108 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 ;
220/521; 220/709 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 ;
220/709; 220/521 |
International
Class: |
B65D 051/28; A47G
019/22 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A disposable container lid adapted to fit about an opening of a
disposable container, said container lid comprising: a reservoir
having a reservoir floor and a reservoir wall; and whereby said
container lid is adapted to thermally isolate said reservoir, the
reservoir for preventing a condiment in said reservoir from
assuming the temperature of a liquid inside said disposable
container.
2. The disposable container lid of claim 1 wherein said reservoir
comprises a reservoir top and a reservoir bottom, and also further
comprising a thermal insulating means disposed on said reservoir
floor.
3. The disposable container lid of claim 1 wherein said container
lid is adapted to fit about the container opening via a lip.
4. The disposable container lid of claim 1 wherein said container
lid is comprised of a semi-transparent plastic.
5. The disposable container lid of claim 1 wherein said container
lid is substantially circular.
6. The disposable container lid of claim 1 further comprising an
orifice, the orifice being adapted to accommodate a straw.
7. The disposable container lid of claim 1 wherein said reservoir
floor further comprises a reservoir top and a reservoir bottom, and
further comprises an adhesive means disposed on the reservoir top,
the adhesive for firmly holding a condiment pack to said reservoir
floor.
8. The disposable container lid of claim 7 wherein said adhesive
means comprises a removable, non-adhesive strip.
9. The disposable container lid of claim 8 wherein said adhesive
means comprises a sticky patch.
10. A disposable, single-use cup lid adapted to cover the opening
of disposable cup, said cup lid comprising: a reservoir having a
reservoir floor and a reservoir wall, the reservoir adapted to
receive a condiment from a condiment package; and a thermal
insulating layer disposed on said reservoir floor; whereby said
thermally insulating layer prevents said condiment package from
assuming the temperature of a liquid inside said container when
said disposable container lid is coupled to said disposable
cup.
11. The disposable container lid of claim 10 wherein said reservoir
floor is higher than the rim of said disposable cup when the cup
lid is securely coupled to the disposable cup.
12. The disposable container lid of claim 10, further comprising a
raised edge that couples said reservoir wall to a lip of said
disposable container lid.
13. The disposable container lid of claim 10 wherein said reservoir
is substantially the same shape as said condiment package.
14. The disposable container lid of claim 10 wherein said reservoir
floor further comprises a reservoir top and a reservoir bottom, and
further comprises an adhesive means disposed on said reservoir top,
the adhesive for firmly holding said condiment package to said
reservoir floor.
15. The disposable container lid of claim 14 wherein said adhesive
means comprises at least one sticky patch.
16. The disposable container lid of claim 15 wherein said sticky
patch is coupled to said condiment pack.
17. A disposable container lid adapted to cover the opening of a
disposable drink cup, said container lid comprising: a reservoir
having a floor and a wall, said reservoir adapted to receive a
condiment container; whereby said container lid is adapted to
thermally insulate the reservoir to prevent the condiment container
in the reservoir from assuming the temperature of a liquid inside
said disposable drink cup.
18. The disposable container lid of claim 17 wherein said reservoir
floor further comprises a top and bottom, and further comprising an
adhesive means disposed on the top of said reservoir floor for
firmly holding said condiment container to said reservoir
floor.
19. The disposable container lid of claim 17 wherein said reservoir
floor is higher than the rim of said disposable cup when the cup
lid is securely coupled to the disposable cup.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a covering for a disposable drink
cup that prevents its contents from spilling while providing a user
access to condiments.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
[0002] Interpretation Considerations
[0003] This section describes the technical field in more detail,
and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. This
section does not describe prior art as defined for purposes of
anticipation or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. section 102 or 35
U.S.C. section 103. Thus, nothing stated in the Problem Statement
is to be construed as prior art.
[0004] Discussion
[0005] Most plastic container lids and cup lids for disposable
drink cups prevent the liquid from spilling out of the cups.
Typically, these lids have an opening (or orifice) on a lid surface
that accommodates a straw. As the number of fast food restaurants
has continued to increase, some of these drink cup lids have been
adapted to accommodate condiments, such as ketchup or relish, or
condiment packages, such as ketchup cups or chicken dipping cups
(these condiment cups are typically provided with fast foods).
Recently, cup lid makers have tried to address the various problems
associated with lids that hold condiments packets by designing lids
with specially formed "reservoirs" in which the condiment may be
poured. These reservoirs allow the consumer/user to conveniently
dip finger foods (such as French fries and chicken strips) into
condiments or condiment packs that are stored or placed into the
reservoirs.
[0006] However, although these prior-art cup lids are able to hold
condiments or condiment packages, they are not without problems.
For example, the condiments frequently take the temperature of any
liquid inside the cup. In addition, condiments may spill from the
lid, or a condiment package may fall from the lid--thereby spilling
on the user and soiling clothing, car interior, work papers or
other items being stored inside an automobile. Thus, it is desirous
to provide a lid that overcomes these and other problems with the
prior art. The present invention effectively provides such an
invention.
SELECTED OVERVIEW OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS
[0007] The invention provides technical advantages as a lid for a
disposable cup, whereby in one embodiment, the lid holds condiments
in a shallow reservoir. In an alternative embodiment the cup lid is
adapted to receive and firmly hold a wide variety of condiment
packages of various shapes and sizes. Each embodiment incorporates
a reservoir having a reservoir base that is maintained
substantially above a fluid level of the cup. Alternative
embodiments provide temperature barriers at the reservoir base, and
means for securing a condiment pack into the lid or reservoir.
Thus, the invention provides advantages over the prior art as a lid
that effectively keeps the contents of the condiment from assuming
the temperature of the liquid inside the cup, and as a means for
firmly holding a condiment package in place on the lid.
[0008] Of course, other features and embodiments of the invention
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. After
reading the specification, and the detailed description of the
exemplary embodiment, these persons will recognize that similar
results can be achieved in not dissimilar ways. Accordingly, the
detailed description is provided as an example of the best mode of
the invention and it should be understood that the invention is not
limited by the detailed description. Accordingly, the invention
should be read as being limited only by the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment,
are better understood by reference to the following EXEMPLARY
EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE. To better understand the invention, the
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE should be read in conjunction
with the drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a cup lid having a
reservoir and a straw opening;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a side view of another embodiment of the
invention as a cup lid that includes a thin insulation layer
disposed about the surface of the reservoir;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows the cup lid of FIG. 2 with a cup-shaped
condiment pack disposed secured in the reservoir;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention.
AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE
[0015] The invention is, in one embodiment, a disposable drink cup
lid that has a reservoir that can hold condiments or condiment
packs, while preventing the condiments from quickly assuming the
temperature of a liquid inside the disposable drink cup. In one
embodiment, the invention is also adapted to firmly hold in place a
condiment container.
[0016] When reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment of a Best
Mode, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the best mode of
the invention, hereinafter "exemplary embodiment"), one should keep
in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiment
is what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing
the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of
ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following
exemplary embodiment that substantially equivalent structures or
substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same
results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in
a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiment should not
be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment.
Likewise, individual aspects (sometimes called species) of the
invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of
ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following exemplary
structure (or a following exemplary act) that a substantially
equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to
either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or
to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way.
[0017] Accordingly, the discussion of a species (or a specific
item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which that species
belongs as well as related species in that genus. Likewise, the
recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art.
Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number
of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention
may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated within their
respective genus, and should be recognized as being functionally
equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or
described.
[0018] Second, the only essential aspects of the invention are
identified by the claims. Thus, aspects of the invention, including
elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described)
should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are
explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a
function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes
of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated
(for example, one recognizes that "tacking" may be done by nailing,
stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the
word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of
that word and similar words, such as "attaching").
[0019] Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive
words (such as "or", "and", "including", or "comprising" for
example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive,
sense. Fifth, the words "means" and "step" are provided to
facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention and do not
mean "means" or "step" as defined in 112, paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C.,
unless used as "means for functioning-" or "step"
for--functioning-"in the claims section.
[0020] Exemplary Device
[0021] Better understanding of the invention can be gained by
reference to figures. Accordingly, FIG. 1 illustrates a side view
of a disposable drink cup 210 and a cup lid (generally 200) having
a reservoir 204 and a straw opening 202. The cup lid 200 is
preferably made from a semi-transparent plastic as are most fast
food restaurant cup lids, and is press-formed to include the
reservoir 204. However, it will be appreciated that the cup lid 200
may be made from other materials, such as plastisol-based compounds
(commonly used for colored lids). Thus, the cup lid 200 is a
disposable, single-use cup lid commonly distributed at most fast
food restaurants.
[0022] The reservoir 204 is preferably adapted to receive a
condiment from a condiment package--such as ketchup, mustard,
relish, or mayonnaise, for example--via "squeezing a condiment into
the reservoir 204, via placing a condiment pack into the reservoir
204, or via a pre-installed/ubiquitous condiment-containing cup
lid. The reservoir 204 generally comprises a reservoir floor 207
and a reservoir wall 205 substantially formed via a raised edge
220, and may include a location for a straw hole 202. The reservoir
floor 207 is, in one embodiment, higher than the rim of said
disposable cup when the cup lid is securely coupled to the
disposable cup. Of course, the reservoir floor may extend below the
rim of the disposable cup in one embodiment, however, it will be
appreciated that the reservoir floor does not extend into an area
of the disposable cup that exposes the reservoir to the disposable
cup's liquid contents when the disposable cup is at rest on a level
surface. Stated another way, the floor of the reservoir is always
above the level of a liquid in the cup, when the cup is on a level,
horizontal surface. In one embodiment, the reservoir 204 may be
circular or rectangular in shape, and in one embodiment is
preferably shaped like a condiment container, or at least
substantially shaped like a condiment container such that a
condiment pack can rest in the reservoir 204.
[0023] The cup lid 200 also includes the straw opening 202 to
accommodate a straw, and the straw opening 202 is typically
embodied as an orifice or a pair of crisscrossed slits, as is known
in the art. In addition, the cup lid has an edge typically
associated with the circumference of the cup lid, which is
preferably embodied as a lip 222. The lip 222 is integrally coupled
to the reservoir via a raised edge 220. The raised edge is
preferably only slightly raised, just enough to form a reservoir
that can hold a condiment pack, about one ounce of condiment. In a
preferred embodiment, the raised edge is 1/4 inch, and in another
it is less than 1/4 inch. Other preferred embodiments provide
raised edges of approximately 1/2 inch, 1/3 inch, or 1/8 inch, for
example. In any event, the raised edge provides a rise from the cup
lip so that an easily manufacturable reservoir can be provided in
the cup lid. Likewise, the lip 222 is adapted to attach along the
outer rim of the cup 210, the rim being associated with a cup
opening 208. Preferably, the cup lid 200 sits snug (so that a
liquid will not pass where the lip 222 and the rim meet) just above
a "cup line" 206 about the cup opening.
[0024] Furthermore, the cup lid 200 is shown placed on the drink
cup 210. Preferably, the reservoir floor 207 is maintained above
the cup line 206 so that the reservoir floor 207 does not touch a
liquid inside the drink cup 210 when the cup is stationary on a
flat, horizontal surface. The reader will appreciate that this
prevents a condiment in the reservoir 204 from quickly assuming the
temperature of the liquid.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a side view of another embodiment of the
invention as a cup lid 200 that includes an insulation layer 300
disposed about the surface of the reservoir 204. In a preferred
embodiment, the insulation layer 300 is adapted to form an
insulating barrier between the reservoir floor 207 and the
condiment package. This keeps the condiment from quickly assuming
the temperature of a liquid in the container. Of course, although
the insulation layer 300 is shown here as disposed inside the
reservoir 204, the insulation layer 300 could easily be located on
the outside of the reservoir 204 (meaning on the side of the
reservoir that is placed inside a drink cup). In one embodiment,
the insulation layer 300 is comprised of waterproof material, such
as Styrofoam, for example, but may also be another insulative
material having a waterproof/liquidproof wrapping (not shown).
Thus, the insulation layer 300 may be disposed on either the bottom
side or topside of the reservoir floor 207. Of course, the
insulation layer 300 also prevents a condiment package from quickly
assuming the temperature of a liquid inside the disposable cup
210.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows the cup lid 200 of FIG. 2 with a cup-shaped
condiment pack 310 disposed in the reservoir 204, the reservoir 204
being generally the same shape as the condiment pack 310. Of
course, it should be understood that the reservoir 204 may be
advantageously designed to accommodate numerous shapes of condiment
packs by choosing a reservoir that is octagonal or star-shaped, for
example. In addition, the reservoir 204 may be shaped like a
company logo, or other recognizable form.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention, where the straw-hole 202, embodied as a pair of
crisscross slits, is more readily visible. In FIG. 4, the reservoir
204 and the lid 200 are illustrated as being circular. However, it
will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the
cup lid 200 may take any of many different shapes, such as a
rectangular or triangular shape, for example, and similarly, the
reservoir may have a shape that is different from the shape of the
lid. For example, in another embodiment, the shape of the reservoir
204 accommodates a rectangular condiment pack, and may even
accommodate a plurality of condiment packs of different shapes and
sizes.
[0028] Additional features and advantages of the invention can be
realized by using an adhesive in conjunction with the reservoir.
FIG. 5 shows a top view of the cup lid 200 that includes an
adhesive 302, which may be embodied as a sticky "patch" of
adhesive, or embodied as a sticky pad 304. Preferably, these
removable sticky patches 302 and 304 are coupled to the top surface
of the reservoir floor 207. Preferably, these sticky patch 302 and
the sticky pad 304 are adapted to hold a condiment pack firmly in
place in the reservoir 204 so as to prevent a condiment pack from
accidentally spilling. Though only two sticky means are shown, a
single or multiple sticky means may be used, or a single sticky
patch strip may also be used. In yet another embodiment, the
condiment pack 310 has a self-adhesive strip thereon. The sticky
pad 304, in one embodiment, utilizes a non-adhesive strip that must
be removed to cause a condiment pack to secure into the lid (much
like a common band-aid).
[0029] Though the invention has been described with respect to a
specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications
will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the
present application. The appended claims are to be interpreted as
broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such
variations and modifications.
* * * * *