U.S. patent application number 10/655676 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for self-closing lid for beverage cups and the like.
This patent application is currently assigned to S2 and Family, L. L. C.. Invention is credited to Kim, Seong Soo.
Application Number | 20050051552 10/655676 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34226171 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050051552 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Seong Soo |
March 10, 2005 |
Self-closing lid for beverage cups and the like
Abstract
Lid for a beverage cup or the like having a top wall with an
opening through which a beverage can be drunk, a valve seat
surrounding the opening, a resilient arm beneath the top wall, a
valve member urged toward sealing engagement with the valve seat by
the resilient arm. The arm is deflected in a downward direction by
the lip of a person drinking through the opening to move the valve
member away from its seat. In one disclosed embodiment, a portion
of the arm extends in proximity to a deformable side wall and is
deflected by the lower lip of the person. In other embodiments, the
valve member extends through the opening and is depressed by the
upper lip, and in one of those the lid is incorporated into a
beverage can.
Inventors: |
Kim, Seong Soo; (Richmond,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARD S. WRIGHT
1100 ALMA STREET, SUITE 207
MENLO PARK
CA
94025
US
|
Assignee: |
S2 and Family, L. L. C.
|
Family ID: |
34226171 |
Appl. No.: |
10/655676 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.1 ;
220/254.5; 220/714 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2517/0041 20130101;
A47G 19/2272 20130101; B65D 43/0208 20130101; B65D 2543/00046
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.1 ;
220/254.5; 220/714 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/22; B65D
051/18 |
Claims
1. A lid for a beverage cup or the like, comprising a top wall with
an opening through which a person can drink, a valve seat
surrounding the opening, a resiliently deformable side wall
engagable by the lower lip of a person drinking through the
opening, a resilient arm affixed at one end beneath the top wall, a
valve member urged toward sealing engagement with the valve seat by
the resilient arm, and means operable by the lip of a person
engaging the side wall for deflecting the resilient arm in a
downward direction to move the valve member away from the
opening.
2. The lid of claim 1 wherein the one end of the resilient arm is
affixed to the under side of the top wall.
3. The lid of claim 1 wherein the top wall and side wall and the
valve member and resilient arm are unitary structures.
4. The lid of claim 3 wherein the resilient arm is affixed to the
wall structure in a manner which permits the valve member and arm
structure to be kept separately and attached to the wall structure
just prior to use.
5. The lid of claim 4 wherein the configuration of the wall
structure is such that a plurality of such structures can be nested
together for shipment and storage.
6. The lid of claim 4 wherein the configuration of the valve member
and arm structure is such that a plurality of such structures can
be nested together for shipment and storage.
7. The lid of claim 1 wherein the means for deflecting the lid
comprises a portion of the arm positioned in proximity to the side
wall.
8. The lid of claim 1 wherein the top wall includes a raised area
in which the opening is located and a recessed area for collecting
spillage from the opening.
9. The lid of claim 1 wherein the valve seat comprises a downwardly
facing bead on the under side of the top wall.
10. The lid of claim 9 wherein the valve member includes a
peripheral groove in which the valve seat bead is received.
11. A lid for a beverage cup or the like, comprising a top wall
with an opening through which a person can drink, a side wall
engagable by the lower lip of a person drinking through the
opening, a mounting post on the under side of the top wall, a
resilient arm having an inner end portion which is affixed to the
mounting post and an outer end portion which can be deflected in a
downward direction by the lip of a person engaging the side wall,
and a valve member carried by the resilient arm for movement into
and out of sealing engagement with the valve seat.
12. The lid of claim 11 wherein the inner end portion of the
resilient arm is pressed onto the mounting post.
13. The lid of claim 11 wherein the top wall and side wall and the
valve member and resilient arm are unitary structures.
14. The lid of claim 13 wherein the configuration of the wall
structure is such that a plurality of such structures can be nested
together for shipment and storage.
15. The lid of claim 13 wherein the configuration of the valve
member and arm structure is such that a plurality of such
structures can be nested together for shipment and storage.
16. The lid of claim 11 wherein the top wall includes a raised area
in which the opening is located and a recessed area for collecting
spillage from the opening.
17. The lid of claim 1 1 wherein the valve seat comprises a
downwardly facing bead on the under side of the top wall.
18. The lid of claim 17 wherein the valve member includes a
peripheral groove in which the valve seat bead is received.
19. A lid for a beverage cup or the like, comprising a top wall
with an opening through which a person can drink, a valve seat
surrounding the opening, a resilient arm having one end secured in
a fixed position beneath the top wall, and a valve member urged
toward sealing engagement with the valve seat by the resilient arm,
with a portion of the valve member extending through the opening
and being engagable by the upper lip of a person drinking through
the opening to hold the valve member away from the seat.
20. The lid of claim 19 wherein the valve member and arm are a
unitary structure.
21. The lid of claim 20 wherein the resilient arm is affixed to the
top wall in a manner which permits the valve member and arm
structure to be kept separately and attached to the top wall just
prior to use.
22. The lid of claim 21 wherein the configuration of the valve
member and arm structure is such that a plurality of such
structures can be nested together for shipment and storage.
23. The lid of claim 19 wherein the top wall includes a raised area
in which the opening is located and a recessed area for collecting
spillage from the opening.
24. The lid of claim 19 wherein the valve seat comprises a
downwardly facing groove, and the valve member includes an upwardly
projecting peripheral bead which is received in the groove.
25. The lid of claim 19 wherein the valve member has a plurality of
steps for engagement with the lip of the person drinking through
the opening.
26. The lid of claim 19 wherein the top wall is the top wall of a
beverage can, and the valve member includes a gasket which is urged
into sealing engagement with the under side of the top wall by the
resilient arm.
27. A lid for a beverage can comprising a top wall having an
upwardly projecting valve member formed therein, a score line
surrounding the valve member, a pull tab attached to the top wall
for depressing the valve member to sever the valve member from the
remainder of the top wall, the pull tab having a long arm and a
short arm and being mounted on the top wall in such manner that the
short arm bears down upon the valve member when the long arm is
pulled in an upward direction away from the top wall, a resilient
arm having one end secured in a fixed position beneath the top wall
and a second end connected to the valve member, and a gasket urged
by the resilient arm into sealing engagement between the valve
member and the under side of the top wall.
28. The lid of claim 27 wherein the gasket is affixed to the
resilient arm, and the valve member is affixed to a central portion
of the gasket, with an outer portion of the gasket surrounding the
valve member and engaging the under side of the top wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] This invention pertains generally to beverage containers and
lids and, more particularly, to a disposable, spill-resistant lid
having a self-closing opening through which a beverage can be
drunk.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Beverages such as coffee and soft drinks are often served in
and drunk from disposable cups made of styrofoam, paper and/or
other plastic materials. To prevent spillage, such cups are
commonly provided with lids which fit tightly over the rims of the
cups to form a seal. Some lids have openings through which the
beverage can be drunk without removing the lid from the cup, and
some of those have closures for sealing the openings. Examples of
such lids are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,015,411, 3,208,629,
3,338,467, 3,905,512, D476,566 and D477,233, and in published PCT
application WO 03/013969.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a
new and improved lid for beverage cups and the like.
[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a lid of the
above character which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages
of lids heretofore provided.
[0007] These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the
invention by providing a lid for a beverage cup or the like having
a top wall with an opening through which a person can drink, a
valve seat surrounding the opening, a resilient arm beneath the top
wall, a valve member urged toward sealing engagement with the valve
seat by the resilient arm. The arm is deflected in a downward
direction by the lip of a person drinking through the opening to
move the valve member away from its seat. In one embodiment, a
portion of the arm extends in proximity to a deformable side wall
and is deflected by the lower lip of the person. In other
embodiments, the valve member extends through the opening and is
depressed by the upper lip, and in one of those the lid is
incorporated into a beverage can.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a lid for a
beverage cup or the like according to the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the valve member and arm
structure in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a lid
for a beverage cup or the like according to the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
4.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the valve member and arm
structure in the embodiment of FIG. 4.
[0014] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a lid
according to the invention incorporated into a beverage can.
[0015] FIG. 8 is an enlarged centerline sectional view of the valve
member in the embodiment of FIG. 7.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the valve member arm
structure in the embodiment of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the lid has a body 11 which
includes a top wall 12, a side wall 13, and a rim 14 at the lower
edge of the side wall for sealing engagement with the rim of a cup
(not shown) or other container from which a beverage is to be
drunk. The body is fabricated as a relatively thin unitary
structure of a material, such as polystyrene or a mixture of
polystyrene and urethane, which is resiliently deformable. The lid
is disposable in the sense that it is intended to be used once and
then recycled or discarded.
[0018] The top wall has a raised area 17 toward one side and a
recessed area or well 18 toward the other. An oval-shaped opening
19 through which a beverage can be drunk is formed in the raised
area and surrounded by a valve seat 20. Communication through the
opening is controlled by a valve member 21 which is movable between
a closed position in sealing engagement with the valve seat and an
open position away from the seat. In this embodiment, valve seat 20
is a downwardly convex bead of generally semicircular cross section
which projects from the under side of the top wall and is received
in a complementary recess or groove 22 at the periphery of the
valve member. Alternatively, if desired, the bead can be formed on
the valve member and the groove in the top wall.
[0019] The valve member is formed integrally with a resilient arm
23 which is affixed at one end to the under side of the top wall.
As best seen in FIG. 1, the top wall is formed to include a
depending post 24 near the opening, and the arm has a socket 26
which is pressed or snapped onto the post to secure the arm to the
body. The arm is fabricated of a resilient material which urges the
valve member toward its closed position in sealing engagement with
the valve seat.
[0020] The outer portion 27 of the arm is downwardly inclined and
extends beyond the opening in close proximity to side wall 13. The
deformable nature of the side wall allows a person drinking from
the cup to press his lower lip against the outer portion of the arm
through the side wall to bend the arm in a downward direction and
thereby move the valve member away from its seat so the beverage
can pass through the opening. When the lip stops pressing against
the side wall, the resiliency of the arm returns the valve member
to the closed position against the valve seat, thereby resealing
the opening. Any spillage which may occur is collected in recessed
area or well 18.
[0021] Being relatively thin, both the valve structure and the body
have complementary upper and lower surface configurations which
permit them to be stacked or nested together separately for
shipment and storage. At the time of use, the person serving the
beverage simply presses or snaps the valve structure onto the post
before placing the lid on the cup. Keeping the two parts separated
in this manner, they occupy substantially less space than the
assembled lids would require.
[0022] The embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 is similar to the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-3, and like reference numerals designate corresponding
elements in the two embodiments. The body is identical except for
the shape of the opening and the surrounding valve seat. Rather
than being oval-shaped as in the first embodiment, opening 31 and
valve seat 32 have the shape of a rounded triangle in plan view,
with one side of the triangle near the outer edge of the top wall.
In this embodiment, the valve seat is a recess groove formed within
an upwardly projecting bead of generally semicircular cross section
surrounding the opening.
[0023] The valve structure once again comprises a valve member 33
and a resilient arm 34 which are formed as a unitary structure. It
includes a socket 36 which snaps or presses onto post 24 to affix
one end of the arm to the under side of top wall 12. Valve member
33 extends through the opening, with a portion projecting above the
wall surrounding the opening for engagement by the upper lip of a
person drinking through the opening. That portion is formed with a
plurality of steps or ridges 37 which facilitate engagement with
the lip. A raised bead 38 at the periphery of the valve member
extends into the groove at the periphery of the opening to form a
seal between the valve member and the valve seat. Alternatively,
the bead can be formed on the top wall and the groove in the valve
member.
[0024] Pressing of the lip against the valve member moves the valve
member away from the valve seat and bends the resilient arm in a
downward direction, thereby allowing the beverage to pass through
the opening. When the lip stops pressing against the valve member,
the resiliency of the arm returns the valve member to its closed
position against the valve seat, thereby reclosing and sealing the
opening.
[0025] As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the configurations of the
valve structure and the body are such that they be stacked
separately and kept apart until the time of use.
[0026] Although the invention has been described thus far with
specific reference to a beverage cup, it can also be used on other
containers including the cans in which soft drinks and other
beverages are often packaged.
[0027] In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9, the lid is incorporated into
a beverage can 39, and valve member 41 is formed as an integral
part of the top wall 42 of the can. The portion 43 of the top wall
in which the valve member is formed is surrounded by a score line
44 and is thereby adapted to be separated from the remainder of the
top wall to form the opening through which the beverage is
drunk.
[0028] The valve member projects above the plane of the top wall
and is depressed by the short arm 46 of a pull tab 47 to open the
can. The pull tab also has a longer arm 48 which extends at an
obtuse angle relative to the short arm, with gussets 49 extending
between the side edges of the two arms to form a rigid structure.
The pull tab is attached to the top wall by a rivet 51, with the
longer arm normally resting against the top wall and the short arm
near the valve member.
[0029] When severed from the top wall, valve member 41 is urged in
an upward direction toward its closed position by a resilient arm
52 which is affixed to the under side of the top wall by rivet 51.
A gasket 53 is affixed to the upper surface of the free end of the
arm, and the valve member is cemented or otherwise attached to the
central portion of the upper side of the gasket, with the outer
portion of the gasket being urged into sealing engagement with the
under side of the top wall around the opening. The gasket can be
fabricated of any suitable material, with one which is relatively
soft or spongy being particularly preferred.
[0030] Until the can is opened, the top wall remains in tact and is
sealed along the score line like a conventional pop-top can.
Pulling up on the long arm 46 of the pull tab causes the short arm
46 to press downwardly against valve member 41 and thereby sever
the wall along the score line, thereby detaching the valve member
from the top wall. Once the valve member is free, the pull tab is
returned to its rest position, with the long arm flat against the
top wall, and the short arm disengaged from the valve member.
[0031] With the valve member separated from the top wall, spring
arm 52 urges the valve member and gasket 53 in an upward direction,
with the gasket in sealing engagement with the under side of the
top wall. A person can drink through the opening in the top wall by
depressing the valve member with his upper lip, as in the
embodiment of FIGS. 4-6. That deflects the free end of the spring
arm in a downward direction, and opens the opening so the beverage
can pass through it. When the lip is removed from the valve member
the spring arm once again presses the gasket against the under side
of the top wall, thereby sealing the opening.
[0032] The invention has a number of important features and
advantages. It provides a spill-resistant lid having a self-closing
opening through which a beverage can be drunk. Flow though the
opening is controlled by a valve member which is normally held in a
closed or sealing position and can be moved to an open position by
the lip of a person drinking through the opening. The valve member
and the body of the lid are separate structures which can be
stacked together or nested until just prior to use, which results
in a substantial saving of space. The lid can be manufactured
inexpensively and is disposable in that it can be used once and
then recycled or discarded.
[0033] It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved
beverage lid has been provided. While only certain presently
preferred embodiments have been described in detail, as will be
apparent to those familiar with the art, certain changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *