U.S. patent application number 10/987139 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for lid with bistably valved drinking spout.
This patent application is currently assigned to Insulair, Inc.. Invention is credited to Claus E. Sadlier.
Application Number | 20060071008 10/987139 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36119332 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060071008 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sadlier; Claus E. |
April 6, 2006 |
Lid with bistably valved drinking spout
Abstract
A lid with a raised drink-through spout (24) has a hinged flap
valve (28) covering a drink opening (26') formed in the surface of
the spout. The user opens the valve by pushing the top of a post
(28P) on the flap (28F) down. A hinge (28H) holding the flap urges
the flap to return to its closed and horizontal orientation, but
the top edge of the post will catch under a catch edge of the
opening opposite the hinge. This holds the flap open. The user can
then drink from the spout. To re-close the valve, the user applies
inward force to the outer sidewall (16) below the catch edge. This
causes the wall to deflect inwardly and the catch edge to distort
outwardly, widening the hole. This releases the post, allowing it
to move upwardly so that the flap can spring back to its horizontal
and closed position.
Inventors: |
Sadlier; Claus E.;
(Pleasanton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David Pressman
#1402
1070 Green St.
San Francisco
CA
94133-5418
US
|
Assignee: |
Insulair, Inc.
Vernalis
CA
95385-9732
|
Family ID: |
36119332 |
Appl. No.: |
10/987139 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10944387 |
Sep 17, 2004 |
|
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10987139 |
Nov 12, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/713 ;
220/254.1; 220/262; 229/906.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00537
20130101; B65D 47/06 20130101; B65D 47/2025 20130101; B65D 43/0218
20130101; B65D 2543/00509 20130101; B65D 2543/00222 20130101; B65D
2543/00555 20130101; B65D 2543/00046 20130101; B65D 2543/00296
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/713 ;
220/254.1; 220/262; 229/906.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18; A47G 19/22 20060101 A47G019/22 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. For a beverage container, a lid that enables a user to drink a
beverage from said cup through a hole in said lid, comprising: a
lid arranged to substantially cover an entire open upper end of a
beverage container of a predetermined size, said lid containing an
attachment portion for sealingly attaching said lid to an upper rim
of said beverage container, said lid having a spout or drinking
portion that extends up from the rest of said lid, said spout
having a top surface with a valve formed therein, said valve
comprising a flap having a hinge side connected to a portion of
said spout along a hinge and a cut side opposite said hinge, said
flap positioned with its cut side adjacent said top surface of said
spout, said flap also arranged to expose a drink hole in said top
surface when said flap is rotated downward along said hinge so that
said valve is in an open position, said flap containing a
protrusion projecting therefrom, said protrusion being sized and
positioned on said flap so that when said flap is rotated downward
from said top surface, and said hinge urges said flap back to a
coplanar orientation with said top surface, said protrusion will
catch on a portion of said upper surface adjacent said drink hole
so that said open position of said valve is stable.
25. The lid of claim 24 wherein said spout contains a release side
connected to said top surface, said release side being deformable
so that pressure on said release side will deform a portion of said
spout and release said protrusion from said upper surface and allow
said flap to return to a closed position.
26. The lid of claim 24 wherein said lid has a turret portion and
said spout or drinking portion is an upwardly extending part of
said turret portion.
27. The lid of claim 26 wherein said turret portion has (a) an
upper surface with a central portion that is recessed, and (b) a
rim that surrounds said central portion and extends up from said
recess, said spout or drinking portion being a part of said
rim.
28. The lid of claim 24 wherein said lid has a circular shape when
seen from above and wherein said lid has a turret portion and said
spout or drinking portion is an upwardly extending part of said
turret portion.
29. The lid of claim 28 wherein said turret portion has (a) an
upper surface with a central portion that is recessed, and (b) a
rim that surrounds said central portion and extends up from said
recess, said spout or drinking portion being a part of said
rim.
30. The lid of claim 24 wherein said flap has substantially the
same shape and size as said hole.
31. The lid of claim 24 wherein said flap is positioned with its
cut side adjacent but below said top surface of said spout.
32. The lid of claim 24 wherein said drink hole in said lid has an
outer edge adjacent an outer edge of said lid and an inner edge
adjacent a center of said lid, and wherein said hinge side of said
flap and said hinge to which said hinge side is connected is at
said outer edge of said hole.
33. A lid for a beverage container wherein said lid has a
drink-through hole that can be selectively opened, comprising: a
lid shaped and sized to seal an open top of a drinking cup of a
predetermined size, said drink-through hole being positioned in
said lid so that a user can drink a beverage in said cup through
said drink-through hole, said drink-through hole being formed in a
surface of said lid, said drink-through hole having a hinge side
and a catch side, a sealing flap attached to said hinge side of
said drink-through hole by a hinge, said sealing flap having a
hinge edge and a cut edge and being arranged to seal said
drink-through hole when said sealing flap is in a closed condition
adjacent said surface of said lid, said hinge arranged to urge said
flap to said closed condition, said sealing flap containing holding
means arranged to hold said sealing flap in an open condition
against said catch edge when said flap extends at a downward angle
to said surface, whereby said sealing flap can be stably positioned
in said open condition.
34. The lid of claim 33 wherein said lid is made of a material
which is deformable so that said catch edge can be moved to a
position where it releases said holding means.
35. The lid of claim 33 wherein said lid has a turret portion and
said drink through opening is located on an upwardly extending part
of said turret portion.
36. The lid of claim 35 wherein said turret portion has (a) an
upper surface with a central portion that is recessed, and (b) a
rim that surrounds said central portion and extends up from said
recess, said drink through opening being a part of said rim.
37. The lid of claim 33 wherein said lid has a circular shape when
seen from above and wherein said lid has a turret portion and said
drink through opening is located on an upwardly extending part of
said turret portion.
38. The lid of claim 37 wherein said turret portion has (a) an
upper surface with a central portion that is recessed, and (b) a
rim that surrounds said central portion and extends up from said
recess, said drink through opening being a part of said rim.
39. The lid of claim 33 wherein said sealing flap has substantially
the same shape and size as said drink-through opening.
40. The lid of claim 33 wherein said holding means comprises a
protrusion projecting from said sealing flap.
41. The lid of claim 40 wherein said protrusion is an upwardly
extending post.
42. The lid of claim 33 wherein said flap positioned with its cut
side adjacent but below said surface of said lid.
43. The lid of claim 33 wherein said hinge side of said
drink-through hole in said lid is adjacent an outer edge of said
lid and said catch side of said drink-through hole is adjacent a
center of said lid.
44. A method of sealing a beverage container, comprising: providing
a cup-sealing lid with a drinking hole that can be selectively
opened, said lid shaped and sized to seal an open top of a drinking
cup of a predetermined size, said drinking hole being arranged so
that a user can drink a beverage in said cup through said drinking
hole, said drinking hole being formed in a surface of said lid,
said drinking hole having a hinge side and a catch side, providing
said lid with a sealing flap attached to said hinge side of said
drink-through opening by a hinge, said sealing flap having a free
edge and being arranged to seal said drink-through opening when
said sealing flap is in a closed condition with said free edge
adjacent said catch side of said lid, said hinge arranged to urge
said flap to said closed condition, said sealing flap containing
holding means arranged to hold said sealing flap in an open
condition against said catch side when said flap extends at a
downward angle to said surface, attaching said lid to a drinking
cup with said sealing flap in said closed condition, and opening
said sealing flap by pushing said sealing flap to an open condition
where said holding means holds said sealing flap in said open
condition against said catch edge, whereby said sealing flap can be
stably positioned in said open condition.
45. The lid of claim 44 wherein said lid has a circular shape when
seen from above and wherein said lid has a turret portion and said
drink through opening is located on an upwardly extending part of
said turret portion.
46. The lid of claim 45 wherein said turret portion has (a) an
upper surface with a central portion that is recessed, and (b) a
rim that surrounds said central portion and extends up from said
recess, said drink through opening being a part of said rim.
47. The lid of claim 44 wherein lid contains a spout that contains
said drink-through opening, said spout containing a release side
connected to a top surface of said spout, said release side being
deformable so that pressure on said release side will deform a
portion of said spout and release said holding means from said
catch edge and allow said flap to return to a closed position.
48. The lid of claim 44 wherein said sealing flap is positioned
with its free edge adjacent but below said catch side of said
lid.
48. The lid of claim 44 wherein hinge side of said drinking hole is
adjacent an outer edge of said lid and said catch side of said
drinking hole is adjacent a center of said lid.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent issued from an application that is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 10/944,387, filed 2004 Sep.
17, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to drinking containers,
specifically to valved lids for such containers.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] Fast food restaurants, beverage shops, and other
food-service establishments serve hot beverages in disposable cups
with lids or covers. The lids keep the cup's contents hot and
prevent the liquid from spilling. Many lids have openings so the
user can drink the beverage from the cup below without removing the
lid. Some lids have raised drink-through spouts that allow the user
to place both lips around the spout to more easily and safely sip
the beverage.
[0006] For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,569 to Clements (1986)
discloses a dome lid with a raised and wide drink-through spout. An
open drink hole is cut out of the top of the spout.
[0007] Pat. Des 417,845 to Sadlier (the present inventor) et al.
(1999) also discloses a dome lid with a wide raised drink-through
spout having an open drink hole in the top of the spout.
[0008] Both of the above lids have been commercially accepted in
the market--many millions are sold each week. Despite their
success, one disadvantage is that the drink hole is always open.
This is problematic to people that want to purchase a beverage and
then take it somewhere else, such as their office, to be consumed.
The beverage can splash out from the open drink hole while the cup
is carried. Additionally, heat readily escapes from the open drink
hole before the user is ready to consume their drink. As a result,
some beverage shop owners have resorted to placing a piece of tape
over the hole so that beverage and heat do not escape until the
user is ready to enjoy their drink. This solution is time
consuming, messy, and unsanitary.
[0009] In order to address this problem inventors have come up with
solutions such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,902 to DeMars
(1990) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,490 to Clarke (2003). These patents
disclose lids with raised drink-through spouts having open drink
holes. The lids further include a flexible arm portion connected to
the lid with a closure plug at the end of the arm. When a user or
vendor wants to close the drink opening, they insert the plug-end
of the arm into the open drink hole. When they want to open the lid
again, they remove the plug from the drink hole. While an
improvement over non-closable raised drink spout lids, these lids
have not gained widespread use because the attached flexible arm is
awkward and can interfere with the user when they attempt to drink
from the cup. After the plug is removed from the drink hole it is
often wet with the beverage, which tends to drip from the plug onto
the user's clothing. Also, this type of lid uses more material and
lid more difficult to make than a standard raised drink-through
spout lid. The operation of opening and closing the hole is
cumbersome and requires two hands. The lids are produced and boxed
with the hole initially open; therefore the server must manually
insert the plug into the lid at the time the beverage is served to
the consumer. This takes more labor time at the service counter.
Because of these deficiencies, these types of lid have not gained
widespread commercial acceptance or use.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,875 to Smith et al. (2004) and published
patent application 2002/0,011,494 to Lukacevic show other two-piece
reclosable lids with raised drink-through spouts. These lids have
two parts: an external cover having the raised drink through spout
with an open drink hole, and an internal rotatable disk having a
drink-hole-closing member. The movable disk also has a post that
extends up through a slot in the external cover. By moving the post
from one side of the slot to the other, the disk can be rotated to
open and close the drink hole. While a functional improvement over
the lids mentioned above, the two-piece construction is expensive
to make. Additional plastic material is required to form both the
external cover and the internal movable disk, and additional
machinery processing is required to fasten the two parts together.
Thus these lids have a significant cost disadvantage over the other
prior-art lids discussed above.
[0011] Herbst, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,051 (1990), and Albert, in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,842 (1980), shows a normally closed lid in
which access slits are formed by downward force.
[0012] Zoellick, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,103 (1978), Schaefer, in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,814 (1998), and Warden et al., in U.S. Pat. No.
5,398,843 (1995), show a lids with a normally closed flap that can
be depressed for drinking.
[0013] Schutz, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,162 (1975), shows a lid with
a slit that is sealed by a normally closed valve that can be opened
by a user's upper lip.
[0014] Yamazaki, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,135 (1978), Galloway et
al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,695 (1982), Boller, in U.S. Pat. No.
5,911,331 (1999), and Amberg et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,604
(1980), show lids with drinking-hole-sealing flaps that can also be
opened by a user's lip.
[0015] Montemerano, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,583 (1982), and Ryan et
al., in published patent application 2004/0,094,549, show lids with
a spout that has a cover that can be opened for drinking.
[0016] Coy, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,975 (1988), shows a lid with a
spout with a valve in the spout. The valve can be opened by lip
pressure.
[0017] Kick, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,950 (1999), and Van Melle, in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,397 (2000), show lids with a flap with a
frangible attachment so that it can be broken away from the rest of
the lid to open it to allow drinking.
[0018] Bruce et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,105 (2002), shows a lid
with a partial spout or funnel (of a non-drink through variety) and
a cylindrical portion below the spout that can be deformed to open
or close it in a bistable manner. The operation of this lid does
not allow for a drink-through type drink spout popular with
consumers and food-service operators alike.
[0019] Hundley et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,456 (2003), and
Schmidtner et al., in published patent application 2003/0,218,017,
show lids with a drinking hole and a hinged valve comprising a
hollow raised tab that can be depressed to open the hole.
[0020] These lids all have one or more disadvantages, including
complexity, unreliability, costliness, difficulty of use,
awkwardness, high cost, etc.
[0021] Thus, all present lids with raised drink-through spouts have
various disadvantages: the beverage can to splash out and lose
heat, tape is awkward to use and is not resealable, sealing plugs
interfere with the user's drinking, drip the beverage within when
opened, use a relatively large amount of material, and require
excess time and labor to use, two-part lids are expensive to make
and require excess material, and other lids are complex,
unreliable, expensive, difficult to use, and awkward.
ADVANTAGES
[0022] Therefore several advantages of the present invention are to
provide a drinking cup lid with a drinking orifice that (1)
improves upon prior-art lids, (2) does not require the use of tape
to close the drink hole, (3) is resealable, (4) does not interfere
or hinder with the user's drinking, (5) does not have any part that
drips when opened, (6) uses a relatively small amount of material,
(7) requires little time, materials, and labor to use, (8) is
simple, reliable, economical, and facile to use.
[0023] Other advantages are to provide a lid with a closure member
that (9) covers the drink opening completely until it is opened by
the user, (10) once opened remains in a stable open position until
closed by the user, (11) can be re-closed by the user, (12) is made
from a single piece of material, (13) can be opened and closed with
a one-hand operation, (14) is sanitary, (15) is integrated into a
standard style of lid with a raised drink through spout
configuration, (16) the user can more easily use for drinking
through the lid, and (17) is more resistant to splashing when the
drink hole is open.
[0024] Further advantages will become apparent from a consideration
of the drawings and ensuing description.
SUMMARY
[0025] According to the invention, a new and improved lid has a
raised drink-through spout with a valved drink opening. The lid is
formed from one piece of material. The lid has a mounting portion
at its base which includes a resilient annular gripping groove
configured to grip the bead on the top of the cup. An annular outer
sidewall or turret, preferably frusto-conical in shape, extends
upward and inward from the mounting portion and has an annular top
surface or rim having a generally circular periphery at the top of
the outer sidewall. The turret has a central recess portion which
forms a center panel of the lid. The rim is higher and wider at one
side, thereby forming a raised drinking spout.
[0026] The drink-through valve in the drinking spout comprises a
rectangular flap in the top surface or ridge of the rim. The flap
has an integrally formed upward protrusion or post. The flap is
defined by a cut line along the front edge, a curved cut line on
each side edge, and a hinge along the back edge. The hinge line
preferably is a "living" or integral hinge at the inner edge of the
top wall.
[0027] The user opens the valve applying downward force to the top
of the post, forcing the flap to bend downwardly along the hinge
line so that the flap extends downwardly at an angle from the ridge
or surface of the rim. The hinge of the flap has a spring action
that urges the flap to return to its closed and horizontal
orientation. However, when the top edge of the post is pushed past
the cut front or catch edge of the top wall, it will catch under
this edge and lock the flap in an open position. This will
preventing the flap from returning and hold the flap--and hence the
valve--in an open position to create a drink-through opening. The
user can then simply drink from the lid as normal by placing their
lips around the raised drink spout.
[0028] To re-close the valve, the user applies inward force to a
point on the outer sidewall below the cut front edge. When such
force is applied at this release point, it causes the front wall to
deflect inwardly and the cut front edge of the drink hole to
distort outwardly, widening the hole. This releases the top edge of
the post, allowing it to move upwardly so that the flap can spring
back to its horizontal and closed position.
DRAWINGS--FIGURES
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior-art domed
drink-through lid.
[0030] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a domed drink through lid
with a drink-spout valve in a closed position, according to the
invention.
[0031] FIG. 2B is a plan view of the lid of FIG. 2A.
[0032] FIG. 2C is a side sectional view of the lid of FIG. 2A taken
along the line 2C-2C of FIG. 2B.
[0033] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the domed drink through lid
if FIG. 2A with the drink-spout valve in the open position.
[0034] FIG. 3B is a detailed plan view of the lid of FIG. 3A.
[0035] FIG. 3C is a detailed sectional view of the portion the lid
of FIG. 3A taken along line 3C-3C of FIG. 3B.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the lid of FIG. 3A
showing the valve returning to its closed position.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a partial side-sectional view of an alternative
arrangement where the valve is closed but its flap is positioned
below its seat.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0038] 10 annular bottom rim [0039] 10F flange at bottom [0040] 12
annular cup-rim-gripping groove [0041] 14 turret or domed portion
[0042] 16 annular vertical wall [0043] 18 horizontal, annular top
surface or ridge [0044] 20 recess [0045] 22 annular upper rim
[0046] 24 drinking portion or spout [0047] 26 drink opening [0048]
26A air-relief hole [0049] 28 valve [0050] 28F hinged flap [0051]
28P upstanding post [0052] 28H living hinge [0053] 30 finger
DETAILED DESCRIPTION--FIG. 1--PRIOR-ART LID
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior-art drink-through
domed cup lid similar to the lid shown in the Sadlier et al. design
patent, supra. This lid has an annular, bottom rim 10 which has a
slight flange 10F extending out from its bottom. The underside of
rim 10 forms a downwardly facing annular cup-rim-gripping and
sealing groove 12 (best seen in FIG. 2C). A turret or domed portion
14 extends up from inside of groove 12; turret 14 has a truncated
conical shape and has an annular vertical wall 16. Turret 14 has an
annular top horizontal surface, or ridge 18 that extends in from
the top of wall 16, and a recess 20 that is surrounded and below
ridge 18. Thus wall 16, ridge 18, and recess 20 form an annular
upper rim 22. Stated differently, rim 22 is the top portion of
turret 14 and encircles and defines recess 20. The front half of
rim 22 slopes upwardly and then levels off to form a raised or
higher and wider drinking portion or spout 24 at the front. Spout
24 has a drink opening 26 which is cut out of ridge 18. A small
air-relief hole 26A is also cut in ridge 18, opposite opening
26.
[0055] As stated, the lid of FIG. 1 has been commercially accepted
in the market and many millions are sold each week. Despite its
success, one disadvantage is that opening 26 is always patent or op
en. This is problematic to people that want to purchase a beverage
and then take it somewhere else, such as their office, to be
consumed. A beverage inside the cup below (not shown) can splash
out from the lid while the cup is being carried. Additionally, heat
readily escapes from the open hole before the user is ready to
consume their drink. As a result, some beverage shop owners have
resorted to placing a piece of tape over the hole for the customer
so that beverage and heat do not escape until the user is ready to
enjoy their drink. This solution is time consuming, messy, and not
sanitary.
[0056] As also stated, valved lids are known that prevent splashing
and reduce heat loss, but these have many disadvantages, including
interference with the user's drinking, dripping of the beverage
within when the valve is opened, use of a relatively large amount
of material, excess time and labor to use, high expense to make, a
large amount of material to fabricate, complexity, unreliability,
difficulty and awkwardness to use, and an inability to stay in an
open configuration until closed by a user.
FIG. 2A--Lid with Valve-Overall Description
[0057] FIG. 2A shows a lid with a valve according to the invention.
The lid is similar to that of FIG. 1, and bears all of the same
reference numerals except that in lieu of a patent or open drinking
hole 26, it has a valve 28. Valve 28 comprises a generally
rectangular hinged flap 28F that has an integral upstanding post or
protrusion 28P. Flap 28F has curved sides and a straight front edge
and a back edge that is hinged to top surface 18 by a living or
natural hinge 28H. I.e., hinge 28H is at the inner, hinge edge of
the hole (now designated 26'). The hinge is formed along the inner
or back edge of the annular top surface adjacent the recess. In
order to assist in the hinging function, a section of the hinging
edge can be made straight. Alternatively the hinge can be designed
as part of the top surface by forming a groove where flap 28F is
intended to bend. When flap 28F is coplanar with ridge or top
surface 18 as shown, the valve is closed, but it can easily be
opened by depressing flap 28F, as will be described, to provide a
drinking opening.
[0058] The lid of FIG. 2A preferably is made by thermoforming, but
can also be made by any of a variety of manufacturing processes,
such as injection molding, and/or vacuum forming. Preferably it is
made from a plastic such as polystyrene (preferred), polypropylene,
polyethylene, or any other suitable plastic material. Post 28P
preferably is an integral part of flap 28F and is made by
thermoforming so that the material of the post is stretched out of
the body of the flap. In one embodiment, the lid was sized to mate
with a paper cup (not shown) having a 90 mm diameter rim that was 3
mm wide. Flap 28F was 14 mm by 4 mm and post 28P was 4 mm high and
3 mm in diameter. The rest of its dimensions were sized
proportionately.
[0059] As will be shown, valve 28 improves upon prior-art lids
since, inter alia, it is easily resealable, does not interfere or
hinder with the user's drinking, prevents the beverage in the cup
from splashing out, and keeps the beverage warmer.
FIGS. 2B and 2C--Top and Side-Sectional Views
[0060] FIGS. 2B and 2C show top and side sectional views of the
lid, with FIG. 2C taken as indicated by section lines 2C-2C in FIG.
2B. As shown in FIG. 2B, recess 20 is in the center of the lid and
is surrounded by rim 22 with its ridge 18. Spout 24 includes valve
28 with flap 28F and its post 28P. Note that flap 28F has an
elongated rectangular shape with curved side edges, similar to the
shape of hole 26 of FIG. 1 or hole 26' of FIG. 2B.
[0061] FIG. 2C shows bottom rim 10 and groove 12 in section; groove
12 is forced over the top rim of a paper cup (not shown) so that
the groove will hold the lid tightly to the cup. Wall 16 extends up
inside rim 10 to form turret or domed portion 14. Ridge 18 of
turret 14 has raised portion or spout 24 and the top portion of the
turret forms upper rim 22 that forms and encircles recess 20. Note
that the portion of upper rim 22 comprising spout 24 is slightly
wider than the rest of upper rim 22.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C--Perspective, Top-Enlarged, and
Part-Side-Sectional Views of Lid with Open Valve
[0062] FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of the lid with valve 28
pushed down and open to form drinking aperture or hole 26'. Hole
26' is similar to hole 26 of FIG. 1, except that flap 28F extends
down from the inner edge of the hole. Post 28P is also pushed down
below the adjacent portion of ridge 18.
[0063] FIG. 3B shows an enlarged plan view of the lid of FIG. 3A.
Note that flap 28F is bent down at living hinge 28H, creating a
patent or open hole 26'. I.e., one side of the flap is attached to
the back or hinge side of hole 26' at living hinge 28H. The tip of
post 28P is locked under the opposite, front, or catch edge of hole
26'. If the tip of the post were not locked under the catch edge of
the hole, hinge 28H would tend to cause the flap to return to its
closed, horizontal position. However since the post is locked under
the catch edge, the flap is bistable, i.e., it has two stable
positions: open and closed. The post is sized so that when the flap
is rotated so that it extends down at an acute angle to top surface
18 of the spout, and the post is subtended by top surface 18 and
flap 28F, the tip of the post will contact the catch edge of hole
26', so that the flap will remain in the open position.
[0064] FIG. 3C shows a side, sectional, detailed view of the
portion of the lid containing valve 28 as taken along line 3C-3C of
FIG. 3B. Again note that flap 28F is bent down at living hinge 28H,
creating hole 26'. Note also that the tip of post 28P is locked
under the front or catch edge of hole 26'.
FIG. 4--Part-Side-Sectional Views of Lid with Closing Valve
[0065] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the lid of FIG. 3A
showing the valve returning to its closed position. When a user
pushes in on wall 16 with a finger 30 as indicated, the portion of
the wall contacted by finger 30 is deformed or pushed in as
indicated. This causes the top portion of the wall above the finger
and the adjacent part of ridge 18 including the catch edge of hole
26' to be deformed outwardly as indicated. This will allow the tip
of post 28P to slip up past the catch edge as also indicated. Flap
28F is shown in the process of rotating back to its horizontal or
closed position. Living hinge 28H will cause the flap to rotate or
spring back until it is substantially closed and coplanar with
ridge 18, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C.
Operation
[0066] Valve Closed: The inventive lids are supplied with their
valves 28 in the closed state (FIG. 2A). Valve flap 28F is coplanar
with its seat, which is part of upper rim 22. The flap will
normally have this position, or bent or rotated slightly upwardly
to a position just above its seat (not shown) after it is cut in
the punching die. If after punching it is rotated to a position
just above the seat, it can be pushed down in the die so that it is
coplanar with its seat as shown in FIG. 2A; this will enable the
user to push down the flap to open the valve more easily. (It can
also be pushed lower, as discussed infra in connection with FIG.
5.)
[0067] A cup (not shown) is filled with a beverage, either at a
beverage store, a home, a vendor, etc. and the lid is snapped down
over the rim of the cup. The user or drinker carries the lidded cup
away, e.g., to a place of employment, a vehicle, a work site, etc.
Since the valve is closed, the lid is substantially entirely closed
so that the beverage within will not splash out, despite rough
handling. Also, the escape of heat (or the entrance of heat if the
beverage is chilled) will be reduced.
[0068] Valve Opening: To drink the beverage, the user merely pushes
post 28P down with a finger or thumb (not shown), causing flap 28F
to rotate downwardly on hinge 28H. When the flap rotates far
enough, the tip of post 28P will snap past the front or catch edge
of hole 26' as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. While hinge 28H will urge
flap 28F to re-close, the flap will not be able to do so and it
will remain in the open position (FIG. 3) since post 28P is locked
below ridge 18 and the catch edge of hole 26'. The flap will thus
remain stably in the open position. The user (not shown) now places
their lips around spout 24 and drinks from the cup, through open
hole 26'. The beverage will flow freely through hole 26', past flap
28F and its post 28P, into the user's mouth.
[0069] As an added benefit, the valve provides splash resistance
even when the drink hole is open. When the valve is open, as shown
in FIG. 3B, hinged flap 28F and post 28P act as a splash guard on
the inside of the lid to block some liquid from splashing through
opening 26'.
[0070] Valve Closing: if the user wishes to interrupt their
drinking before consuming all of the beverage in the cup, they can
close valve 28 as follows: As shown in FIG. 4, the user uses a
finger 30 to push inwardly on wall 16, below ridge 18. This causes
this portion of wall 16 to deflect inwardly as shown, which in turn
causes the upper part of wall 16 and front and catch edge of hole
26' to distort outwardly far enough to allow the tip of post 28P to
slip upwardly, past the front edge of hole 26' so that flap 28F
closes and re-seals opening 26'. Thus the cup can now be carried
and handled without its beverage splashing out and reducing the
transmission of heat though hole 26'. The user removes their finger
30 from wall 16, allowing the wall to return to its normal,
undistorted conformation and allowing hole 26' to return to its
normal conformation.
[0071] I presently believe the following explanation is correct,
but do not wish to be bound by it. I believe that the upper part of
wall 16 and front and catch edge of hole 26' distort outwardly when
the user pushes inwardly at the lower part of wall 16 because wall
16 acts as a lever whose fulcrum is between the point where force
is applied and the top of the wall. The fulcrum is created by the
stiffness of the lid due to its circular shape.
[0072] There are other ways to close hinged flap 28F, in addition
to the method described above. Drink spout 24 can be squeezed or
rolled between a finger and thumb. This will distort this portion
of the lid and thereby release the post from the catch edge and
allow the flap to close. Alternatively the user can remove the lid
from the cup and push the underside of the flap up with a finger to
close the flap. The user can then reattach the lid to the cup.
[0073] Valve Re-Opening When the user desires to drink again, they
push post 28P down to open the flap again. Post 28P will again be
locked under the catch edge of hole 26' since the hole has returned
to its original conformation.
FIG. 5--Valve Flap Pushed Below Seat
[0074] As stated, the lids may be formed with valve flap 28F
coplanar with its seat as shown in FIG. 2A, or just above its seat
(not shown). However I have found that users find it easier to push
down the flap to the open position (FIG. 3C) if the lids are
supplied with the flap bent down to a position just below the seat,
or top surface of the spout, as shown in the fragmentary view of
FIG. 5. This position can be created at the time the lid is formed
in the punching die (not shown) by providing the female die with a
spring-loaded stripper pin (not shown, but well-known to those
skilled in the art) to push the flap slightly downward, below its
seat after it is punched. The flap will self-rotate upwardly to
this position after it is pushed down lower and released since its
hinge 28H will rotate it upwardly until its edge contacts the edge
of its seat, which will stop it.
[0075] When the lids are supplied with the flap in this position
(FIG. 5), the fluid within will not splash out since the valve is
still closed. However the user can push it down to the open
position (FIG. 3C) very easily since it is already below its seat.
The open valve can be closed and returned to the closed state of
FIG. 5 in the same manner discussed above.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0076] Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the
invention, I have provided a drinking cup lid with a drinking
orifice that (1) improves upon prior-art lids, (2) does not require
the use of tape to close the drink hole, (3) is easily resealable,
(4) does not interfere or hinder with the user's drinking, (5) does
not have any part that drips when opened, (6) uses a relatively
small amount of material, (7) requires little time, materials, and
labor to use, (8) is simple, reliable, economical, and facile to
use, (9) covers the drink opening completely until it is opened by
the user, (10) once opened will remain in a stable open position
until closed by the user, (11) can be re-closed by the user, (12)
is made from a single piece of material, (13) can be opened and
closed with a one-hand operation, (14) is sanitary, (15) is
integrated into a standard style of lid with a raised drink through
spout configuration, (16) the user can more easily use for drinking
through the lid, and (17) is more resistant to splashing when the
drink hole is open.
[0077] While the above description contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred
embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are
possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, the
material, size, and plastic forming method can be changed. The
valve need not be on the top surface of the spout, but instead can
be on a side surface. The post can be glued on, rather than being
stamped from the flap. In lieu of the post, a nubbin, mound, or
other protrusion can be used. The shape of the flap can be changed
to oval, circular, triangular, rectangular, etc. The flap can be
hinged to the outer edge of the hole, or a side edge, rather than
the inner edge. In this case the release point would be on the
inside or side surface of the spout. The flap can be larger than
the drink-through opening so that when closed it will lie adjacent,
either slightly above or below the top surface of the spout, but
not coplanar with the top surface. The arrangement for attaching
the lid to the cup can be changed to, e.g., screw-on, glue-on, etc.
A recess in the lid need not be provided; instead the top of the
lid can be flat with an upstanding valved spout. The lid can have
shapes other than circular, such as oval, rectangular, triangular,
polygonal, etc. The lid can be used for cold beverages and for
containers for substances other than beverages, i.e., containers
for non-potable liquid and particulate products. Embossed
lettering, such as the word(s) "push" or "push down" can be
embossed or debossed into the surface of the raised drink spout on
either side of the valve to instruct the user on how to open the
lid. Similarly embossed lettering such as the word(s) "push", "push
here" or "push here to close" can be embossed or debossed into the
front surface of the lid along wall 16 just below the value to
educate the users on how to reclose the lid. In addition an
embossed button, semi sphere, or bump can be formed at this
location on wall 16 to facilitate closing of the flap more
easily.
[0078] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the
examples given.
* * * * *