U.S. patent application number 10/878004 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-29 for display stopper for beverage container lids.
Invention is credited to Lucks, Spice.
Application Number | 20050284874 10/878004 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35504500 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050284874 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lucks, Spice |
December 29, 2005 |
Display stopper for beverage container lids
Abstract
An attachment for a beverage container lid is provided,
comprising a plug-like stopper with a vertical pull-tab, and being
preferably made of an edible flavorful material, such as vanilla
gel or molded crystalline sugar. The stopper prevents spillage of
the liquid contents of the container, while the vertical pull-tab
is suited for display of a trade-mark or logo, relating to the
beverage or otherwise. In a preferred embodiment, the stopper would
be oval-shaped to fit the drink hole in common coffee cup lids.
Inventors: |
Lucks, Spice; (Vancouver,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Spice Lucks
c/o Paul D. Gornall
Barrister & Solicitor, Reg'd Patent & TM Agent
1820 - 355 Burrard St.
Vancouver
BC
V6C 2G8
CA
|
Family ID: |
35504500 |
Appl. No.: |
10/878004 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/712 ;
206/459.5; 40/311 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00527
20130101; B65D 47/121 20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D
2543/00731 20130101; B65D 2543/00796 20130101; B65D 51/245
20130101; B65D 2543/00046 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; G09F
23/08 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/712 ;
040/311; 206/459.5 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/22 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A display stopper attachment for a beverage container lid,
comprising a plug-like stopper with a display pull-tab formed to
stand away from the lid while preventing spillage from the beverage
container lid.
2. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the display
pull-tab extends from a top surface of the beverage container lid
and has a noticeable display area when the plug-like stopper is
inserted in a sipping aperture in the beverage cup lid.
3. The display stopper attachment of claim 2, in which the display
pull-tab is substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the
beverage container lid when the plug-like stopper is inserted in an
aperture for sipping that is formed in the beverage container
lid.
4. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the display
stopper is made of an edible material.
5. The display stopper attachment of claim 4, in which the display
stopper attachment is made of a soluble material.
6. The display stopper attachment of claim 4, in which the display
stopper attachment is made of a sweetener material.
7. The display stopper attachment of claim 4, in which the display
stopper attachment is made of a flavouring material.
8. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the display
stopper attachment has a face displayed toward a user when the user
holds a beverage container on which the display stopper attachment
has been inserted into a sipping aperture.
9. The display stopper attachment of claim 8, in which the face
displays a design.
10. The display stopper attachment of claim 8, in which the face
displays a message.
11. The display stopper attachment of claim 8, in which the display
pull- tab is formed as a logo.
12. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the display
pull-tab and the stopper are joined with sufficient strength that
the display stopper attachment can be easily removed by a consumer
by pulling upwards on the display pull-tab.
13. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the stopper
has an extension for reaching into the beverage container to
function as a stir stick or a straw upon an end cap portion of the
extension being removed.
14. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the display
pull-tab and the stopper have a display base portion adapted to
overlap a sipping aperture in a lid and have a narrower plug-like
stopper portion adapted to fit within the sipping aperture.
15. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the stopper
has a display base portion that comprises at least one buttressing
portion for the display pull-tab.
16. The display stopper attachment of claim 1, in which the display
pull tab is hollow and contains a substance of interest to a
consumer.
17. The display stopper attachment of claim 16, in which the
display pull- tab contains a coffee bean.
18. The display stopper attachment of claim 11, in which an edible
adhesive is applied to the display stopper attachment in an area
where the edible adhesive would abut the rim of a sipping aperture
when inserted into the beverage container lid, in order to enhance
sealing by the display stopper attachment.
19. The display stopper attachment of claim 16, in which the
beverage container lid is a coffee cup lid.
20. The display stopper attachment of claim 2, in which: a) the
beverage container lid is a coffee cup lid; b) the display pull-tab
is substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the coffee cup
lid and has a face displayed toward a user when the user holds a
coffee cup in typical fashion ready to drink, when the display
stopper has been inserted into a sipping aperture. c) the display
stopper attachment is made of an edible, soluble, flavouring
material; in which the display pull-tab and the stopper are joined
with sufficient strength that the display stopper attachment can be
easily removed by a consumer by pulling upwards on the display
pull-tab, and in which the display pull-tab and the stopper have a
wide display base portion adapted to overlap a sipping aperture in
a lid and have a narrower plug-like stopper portion adapted to fit
within the sipping aperture, and in which the stopper has a display
base portion that comprises at least one buttressing portion for
the display pull-tab.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of beverage
container lids. In particular it relates to lids with apertures
that allow the user to drink from beverage containers that are
otherwise sealed by the lids.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR TECHNOLOGY
[0002] There are removable beverage container lids that can be
reattached. Disposable coffee cup lids are commonly provided by
coffee shops for take-out orders.
[0003] There also exist removable and replaceable caps for drinking
containers, such as are found on canteens, thermos', bicycle
bottles and pop bottles.
[0004] There are also edible containers, such as bowls for soup
made out of compacted baked bread. and candy simulation of
containers, such as candy baby bottle nipples.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An attachment for a beverage container lid is provided,
comprising a plug-like stopper and a vertical pull-tab, and being
preferably made of an edible flavorful material, such as vanilla
gel or molded crystalline sugar. The vertical tab is suited for
display of a trade-mark or logo, relating to the beverage or
otherwise. In a preferred embodiment, the stopper would be
oval-shaped to fit the drink hole in a common coffee cup lid, to
prevent spillage of the liquid contents of the cup.
[0006] The display stopper attachment device being composed of a
tasty, safe-to-eat substance provides benefit to the consumer and
to the environment, as it does not need to be discarded. It can be
sucked or chewed as a complement to the beverage, or can be made of
readily soluble flavoring and put into the beverage if desired. The
vertical pull-tab and the stopper form a unitary piece joined with
sufficient strength that the device can be easily removed by the
consumer simply by pulling upwards on the vertical pull-tab. The
plug-like stopper portion is narrow enough to snugly fit in the
sipping aperture and the vertical pull-tab has a buttressing base
that is wider than the stopper portion and overlaps the rim area
adjacent to the sipping aperture.
[0007] The edible display stopper can be reinserted to lessen the
possibility of spilling of the beverage. Coffee spills, for
example, can be not only hot and hazardous to the skin, but can
stain clothing and automobile upholstery.
[0008] The vertical pull-tab can be stamped with a company logo or
other attractive design that the seller may wish to display.
[0009] This edible display stopper device thus performs three
functions:
[0010] 1. it is a removable stopper to prevent or reduce the chance
of spilling of a beverage in a lidded container;
[0011] 2. it is an edible material which can be used as an
additional flavouring for the beverage in the container;
[0012] 3. it has a vertical pull-tab that faces the user and can
usefully display a logo or message.
[0013] 4. the stopper plug portion is narrow enough to snugly fit
in the sipping aperture;
[0014] 5. the vertical pull-tab has a buttressing base that is
wider than the stopper portion adapted to overlap the rim area
adjacent to the sipping aperture.
[0015] The invention is thus a display stopper attachment for a
beverage container lid, comprising a plug-like stopper with a
display pull-tab formed to stand away from the lid while preventing
spillage from the beverage container lid. The display pull-tab
extends from a top surface of the beverage container lid and has a
noticeable display area when the plug-like stopper is inserted in a
sipping aperture in the beverage cup lid.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the display stopper attachment
fits a coffee cup lid, with the stopper being narrow enough to
snugly fit in the sipping aperture and the vertical pull-tab having
a wider buttressing base that overlaps the rim area adjacent to the
sipping aperture of the coffee cup lid, the pull-tab being
substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the coffee cup lid
and having a face displayed toward a user when the user holds a
coffee cup in typical fashion ready to drink, after the display
stopper has been inserted into a sipping aperture in the coffee cup
lid. The display stopper attachment would preferably be formed of a
edible, soluble, flavouring material suited for use with a drink of
coffee.
[0017] The display pull-tab and the stopper are unitary or joined
with sufficient strength that the display stopper attachment can be
easily removed by a consumer by pulling upwards on the
pull-tab.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container lid in
which the drinking aperture on the lid has been plugged with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1, showing a
different message on the back of the pull-tab.
[0020] FIG. 3 is the rear view of the device of FIG. 2, in which
the edible display stopper is shown removed from the beverage
container lid's drinking aperture.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a top view of a typical beverage container
lid.
[0022] FIG. 5 a top view of the device of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front view with hidden lines, showing a stir
stick variant of the edible display stopper of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a front view of a minimalist tab variant of the
edible display stopper of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a front view with a partial cutaway, showing a
molded logo variant of the edible display stopper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a coffee cup lid (1), with an
edible display stopper (2) inserted into the sipping aperture
(shown in later Figures as (5)). The edible display stopper's
vertical pull-tab (3) has an octagonal shape and bears an `SS` logo
(6) impressed upon the front surface of the pull-tab (3). The rim
ring (19) and the overlap ring (2) of the coffee cup lid (1) are
shown, as well as the indented top surface (17), below and abutting
top brace (21). The display stopper (2) has a display base (22)
that is wider than the sipping aperture and overlaps it.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the edible display stopper (2) is shown
partially removed from the coffee cup lid (1), with the display
base (22) now above and removed from overlapping the sipping
aperture (shown in later Figures as (5)). The edible display
stopper can be reversable. It can have a logo (for example, the
`SS` shown in FIG. 1) on a front side of the pull-tab (3) and a
message on a rear side (7) such as "Sweet Stop". Instead of a
message, there could be a picture or an appealing design. The
plug-like stopper portion (15) is partially visible, extending from
the coffee cup lid (1).
[0028] In FIG. 3, the edible display stopper (2) is shown fully
removed from the sipping aperture of the coffee cup lid (1), and
the plug-like stopper portion (15) can be seen in its full vertical
extent.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, the sipping aperture (5) in the coffee
cup lid (1) can have a rim (4) that is oval shaped, in which case
the lower stopper portion of the edible display stopper would be
shaped complementarily to fit. The rim ring (19) and the overlap
ring (2) of the coffee cup lid (1) enable the lid to snap over the
rim of a coffee cup and provide a drip edge.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, the top surfaces of the octogonal
shaped pull-tab (3) of FIG. 1 cover the sipping aperture when
inserted into the coffee cup lid (1). A back buttress (16) can be
formed on the base of the display pull-tab (3) to reduce the
possibility of breakage of the display pull-tab from the plug-like
stopper portion. This feature can also be seen in FIG. 1.
[0031] In FIG. 6, it is shown that the lower portion (15) of the
edible display stopper can be extended to a stir stick portion (14)
that is long enough to protrude into the beverage below the lid
(1), where it can perform a stirring function, and may become
partially dissolved in the beverage, depending on its composition.
Alternatively, it could be longitudinally hollow (23) except for an
end cap portion, which could be at the display pull-tab or the
bottom (24) for sealing. but could be bitten off, dissolved or
otherwise removed to allow the extension to become a straw. The
rounded pull-tab portion (9) allows more grasping area for the user
than if it were only as narrow as the lower portion (15). The
stylized `S` logo (8) on the vertical front face of the edible
display stopper could be that of a coffee retail chain, supplier,
another beverage company, or restaurant.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows a basic edible display stopper, where the
pull-tab (11) is the same width as the plug portion of the edible
display stopper (2). The coffee cup lid (1) has a three-dimensional
top structure for strength that includes a lower inner surface
plane (13). The lower portion (15) of the edible display stopper
would typically reach past at least that plane (13), while the
display base (22) would overlap the sipping aperture rim, being too
wide to fit within the sipping aperture, providing stability for
the edible display stopper when inserted within the sipping
aperture of the coffee cup lid (1). The `V` logo (10) on the
vertical front face (11) of a stick shaped display portion version
of the edible display stopper could be that an advertiser of wares
unrelated to the beverage who the merely wished the logo for its
wares or services to be displayed while the edible display stopper
was facing its consumer. The logo could be that of a special event
or promoter, with the edible display stopper sold or given away at
the event or during promotional activities for the event.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 8, the coffee cup lid (1) is shown with a
middle area cutaway view where the edible display stopper (2) has
been inserted to the point that its lower portion (15) plugs the
sipping aperture, while its display base 22 rests on, overlaps, and
thus caps the sipping aperture. The pull-tab (12) can itself be
shaped in a logo form, such as the `S` shown at (12), provided its
material is cohesive enough to enable removal by the user.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 9, the lower portion (15) of the display
stopper (2) is oval shaped to match the typical oval-shaped sipping
aperture on a coffee cup lid.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 10, the back buttress (16) is joined to
the display stopper (2) and extends to the indented surface (17) of
the coffee cup lid (1), to provide extra strength during removal of
the edible display stopper by grasping on the display portion (3),
and to provide extra stability when inserted into the sipping
aperture, whose rim (4) is shown plugged by the narrower lower
portion (15).
[0036] The above-described pull-tab display stopper make be
embodied in a variety of shapes and compositions. The preferred
embodiments involve a stopper and pull-tab that is: a) designed to
prevent spillage of the liquid contents of the beverage container,
b) designed to be tasty and safe-to-eat, and c) designed to present
a display that can be varied to the specifications of the user.
[0037] An further advantage of having the device composed of
edible, readily soluble material is for safety when ingested. The
device can be formed of sugar, flavored candy, chocolate, vanilla,
or other beverage flavour additives. The device could be hollow and
contain a coffee bean.
[0038] As a option, edible adhesive could be used on the display
stopper in the area where it would abut the rim of the sipping
aperture when inserted into the beverage container lid, in order to
enhance the sealing effect.
[0039] The within-described invention may be embodied in other
specific forms and with additional options and accessories without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
presently disclosed embodiment is therefore to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *