U.S. patent application number 11/549154 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for lid having a reclosable spout.
This patent application is currently assigned to WADDINGTON NORTH AMERICA, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael G. Evans.
Application Number | 20070131691 11/549154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37963174 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070131691 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Evans; Michael G. |
June 14, 2007 |
LID HAVING A RECLOSABLE SPOUT
Abstract
A lid having a reclosable spout for providing a reclosable
drink-through opening therewithin, for use with disposable drinking
cups. The lid comprises a reclosable tab, an integral hinge and a
sealing edge wherein the reclosable tab may be moved about the
integral hinge to an open position by pulling the reclosable tab
away from the sealing edge; or to a closed position by pushing the
reclosable tab against the sealing edge. The reclosable tab, in its
open position, defines a drink-through opening in the lid through
which a user can consume a beverage from the drinking-cup without
removing the lid. In its closed position, the reclosable tab is
adapted to close the drink-through opening in a leak-resistant
manner. The reclosable spout of the present invention can be
employed on a variety of lids and containers for facilitating
drinking, dispensing, or pouring therefrom.
Inventors: |
Evans; Michael G.;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MAINE & ASMUS
100 MAIN STREET
P O BOX 3445
NASHUA
NH
03061-3445
US
|
Assignee: |
WADDINGTON NORTH AMERICA,
INC.
6 Stuart Road
Chelmsford
MA
|
Family ID: |
37963174 |
Appl. No.: |
11/549154 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60727140 |
Oct 14, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.5 ;
220/713; 220/780; 229/404; 229/906.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/063 20130101;
B65D 2205/02 20130101; B65D 2543/00638 20130101; B65D 2543/00351
20130101; B65D 2543/00731 20130101; B65D 2543/00509 20130101; B65D
2543/00537 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00555
20130101; B65D 2543/00685 20130101; B65D 43/0212 20130101; B65D
2543/00796 20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/0049
20130101; B65D 2543/00046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.5 ;
220/713; 220/780; 229/404; 229/906.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/04 20060101
B65D051/04; A47G 19/22 20060101 A47G019/22; B65D 41/18 20060101
B65D041/18 |
Claims
1. A plastic lid for a drink cup comprising: a peripheral rim
adapted for engaging with said drink cup; a reclosable tab adapted
for alternating between an open position and a closed position
through an integral hinge; and wherein said reclosable tab is
adapted to define a drink-through opening in said open position and
to close said drink-through opening in said closed position.
2. The plastic lid according to claim 1, wherein said reclosable
tab is substantially upright and can be closed by a user, from said
open position to said closed position, by moving said reclosable
tab against a depending surface.
3. The plastic lid according to claim 2, wherein said reclosable
tab can be pulled open by said user, from said closed position to
said open position, by moving said reclosable tab away from said
depending surface.
4. The plastic lid according to claim 2, wherein said depending
surface is arcuate.
5. The plastic lid according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
said reclosable tab and said integral hinge is arcuate.
6. The plastic lid according to claim 1, wherein said reclosable
tab in said closed position renders said plastic lid substantially
leak resistant.
7. The plastic lid according to claim 1, wherein said plastic lid
is injection molded with said reclosable tab in one of said open
position and said closed position.
8. The plastic lid according to claim 1, wherein said plastic lid
contains Polypropylene.
9. A plastic lid for a drink cup comprising: a peripheral recess
about said lid for engaging with said drink cup; a reclosable spout
on said lid comprising a moveable tab, an integral hinge and a
sealing surface wherein said movable tab is able to alternate
between an open position and a closed position about said integral
hinge, wherien said moveable tab in said open position creates a
drink-through opening for allowing a user to drink from said drink
cup without removing said plastic lid from said drink cup; and
wherein said moveable tab in said closed position rests against
said sealing surface and closes said drink-through opening.
10. The plastic lid according to claim 9, wherein said reclosable
spout in said closed position is substantially leak resistant.
11. A plastic lid comprising: a peripheral mounting portion for
engaging with the upper rim of a drinking cup; a raised frontal
portion extending upwardly from said peripheral mounting portion; a
central body portion having a central wall; said raised frontal
portion having a reclosable tab, an integral hinge and a sealing
edge; wherein said reclosable tab is moveable between a first
position and a second position; said first position being defined
by said reclosable tab being disposed away from said sealing edge
and said second position being defined by said reclosable tab being
disposed against said sealing edge; and wherein, said reclosable
tab and said sealing edge cooperatively define a drink-through
opening in said first position; said drink-through opening being
substantially closed in said second position.
12. The lid according to claim 11, wherein said reclosable tab is
arcuate and flares radially outwardly from said central body
portion in said first position.
13. The lid according to claim 11, wherein said reclosable tab is
arcuate and bends radially inwardly towards said central body
portion in said second position.
14. The lid according to claim 11, wherein said lid is produced
primarily from a polypropylene resin.
15. The lid according to claim 11, wherein said sealing edge is
made from an elastomeric material.
16. A reclosable spout, comprising: a moveable tab, a depending
surface, and an integral hinge, wherein said moveable tab is
adapted for moving about said integral hinge between a first
position and a second position; and wherein said moveable tab, in
said first position, is positioned away from said depending surface
and defines an opening; and said moveable tab, in said second
position, is positioned against said depending surface to close
said opening.
17. The reclosable spout according to claim 16, wherein said
reclosable spout is integrally incorporated into a lid for use with
a drinking cup, and wherein said opening is adapted for drinking
from said cup.
18. The reclosable spout according to claim 16, wherein said
moveable tab is oriented in a generally upright direction in said
first position.
19. The reclosable spout according to claim 16, wherein said
integral hinge is arcuate.
20. The reclosable spout according to claim 16, wherein said
integral hinge is a living hinge and wherein said living hinge is
made primarily from a polypropylene resin.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Applications No. 60/727,140, filed Oct. 14, 2005, which is herein
incorporated in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to a reclosable spout that
can be employed on a variety of lids, closures and containers for
facilitating drinking, dispensing, or pouring therefrom. More
particularly, this invention in one embodiment relates to a
drinking-cup lid having a reclosable spout for providing a
reclosable drink-through opening within the lid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Disposable drinking cups and lids are well known in the art
and find wide-spread use in restaurants, diners, cafeterias and
households. Almost all lids designed for use with drinking cups
have a provision for a drink-through opening which allows a user to
consume the beverage contained in the drinking cup without removing
the lid therefrom. A drink-through opening is particularly
desirable while consuming hot beverages such as tea or coffee.
[0004] Categorically, a general feature on most common lid designs
is a drink-through opening created by tearing away a small section
of the lid in the form of a tab or flap. The torn flap section is
permanently severed from the cup to reveal the drink-through
opening in some designs; while in other designs, the torn flap
section is folded back and secured within a tab-retaining or
locking feature provided on the surface of the lid. Numerous prior
teachings describe lids featuring a removable and/or a tear-back
and/or a fold-back type tab for creating a drink-through opening in
the lid, including for instance U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,615,459;
4,753,365; 5,392,949; 5,490,609; 5,613,619; 5,699,927; 5,839,601;
5,947,323; 6,089,397; and 6,260,727.
[0005] Another category of lid designs features a drink-through
opening by merely providing a small unobstructed aperture or hole
within the lid so that the customer does not have to tear-off,
remove, fold or lock anything to access the beverage.
[0006] Still another lid design, sold by Dart Container
Corporation, comprises a two-piece lid assembly wherein the main
lid body includes a secondary piece assembled thereto. The
secondary piece has a closure tab which is adapted to cover and
seal the drink-through opening provided in the main lid body.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,490 teaches yet another lid design which
includes an aperture and a flexible tab having a closure thereon
that is connected to the main body of the lid; the closure can be
bent over the main body of the lid and engage with the aperture so
as to seal it.
[0008] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,874,649; 6,889,860 and 6,929,143 teach a
projecting tab that can be partially separated from the rest of the
lid along a fault line and pivoted about a hinge and folded
back.
[0009] One of the disadvantages of prior lids equipped with a
tear-back flap is that they require the user to tear off a section
of the lid, which is not always a pleasant activity for the user as
oftentimes the tear-back flap does not always tear back along the
intended fault lines and does require certain skill and precision
on the part of the user. In addition, tearing off the flap section
requires a user to use both of his/her hands, typically by pushing
downwardly on the lidded cup with one hand, while lifting and
pulling the flap section to tear it along the designated fault
lines with the other hand. As frequently happens, the downwardly
push on the lidded cup results in a small quantity of the beverage
contained in the cup to escape through the vent-hole in the lid,
and overflow onto the top of the lid. In such instances, the
beverage overflow onto the lid top has to be cleaned-up, prior to
use, for preventing further spills. Another disadvantage of
tear-back flap type lid configurations is that they are either not
reclosable or only partially reclosable and therefore not
sufficiently leak resistant after the tear-back flap has been
deployed.
[0010] Other lid designs wherein the aperture is capable of being
blocked with a press-fit tab or closure attached to a flexible tab
are often difficult to operate and again may require considerable
effort on the part of the user.
[0011] Generally speaking, in prior lid designs, the drink-through
opening is--either not reclosable; or partially reclosable; or
reclosable only with difficulty; or requires a two-piece assembly.
Thus, there is a need for a lid that--overcomes the disadvantages
associated with the tear-back flap or tab type lid designs; does
not require any tearing-off of lid-sections; features a reclosable
drink-through opening that can be operated with ease without
requiring considerable effort, skill or precision on the part of
the user; has a unitary or single-piece structure; and offers
improved leak-resistance. These needs are further accentuated by
today's busy life style and user-demands for carrying, take-out and
use convenience. These and other needs as shall hereinafter appear
are met by the lid of the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] One embodiment of the present invention is to overcome the
disadvantages of prior lids and to provide a lid which obviates the
need for having a tear-back flap or tab and does not require
subjecting the lid to any "tearing along a fault line."
[0013] Still another aspect of the invention is to obviate any
flap-retaining features that are usually provided in lids having
tear-back flaps and does not require "tucking away the torn-off
flap into a retaining feature on the lid".
[0014] Accordingly, it is an embodiment of the present invention to
provide a lid having a reclosable drink-through opening that can be
opened for drinking therethrough without removing the lid from the
cup; or closed for preventing spills, splashes or leaks.
[0015] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a lid
having a reclosable spout which is adapted for forming a
drink-through opening in its open position and closing off the
drink-through opening in its closed position.
[0016] Still another feature of the present invention is to provide
a lid with a reclosable spout that is integral to the lid and is
not a separate piece or assembly.
[0017] Yet another feature of the invention is to provide a lid
with a novel reclosable spout that can be comfortably operated or
opened and closed with one hand.
[0018] One embodiment of the present invention is to provide a
drinking-cup lid having a reclosable tab which can be alternated
between an open position and a closed position by a user; wherein
the reclosable tab in its open position is adapted for creating a
drink-through opening in the lid, and in its closed position is
adapted for closing the drink-through opening.
[0019] Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide
a drinking-cup lid having a reclosable tab and an integral hinge;
wherein the reclosable tab is adapted for alternating between an
open position and a closed position about the integral hinge; and
wherein the reclosable tab in its open position is adapted for
creating a drink-through opening in the lid, and in its closed
position is adapted for closing the drink-through opening.
[0020] Yet another feature according to one of the embodiments of
the present invention is to provide an injection-molded
polypropylene lid that features a reclosable spout that is adapted
for forming a drink-through opening in its open position and
closing the drink-through opening in its closed position.
[0021] To achieve the foregoing and other embodiments of the
invention, a drinking-cup lid having a reclosable tab, an integral
hinge and a sealing edge is provided. The reclosable tab can be
moved about the integral hinge to an open position by pulling the
removable tab away from the sealing edge; or to a closed position
by pushing the reclosable tab against the sealing edge. The
reclosable tab, in its open position, is adapted to define a
drink-through opening in the lid through which a user can consume a
beverage from the drinking-cup without removing the lid. In its
closed position, the reclosable tab is adapted to close the
drink-through opening in a leak-resistant manner.
[0022] Still other embodiment, features and advantages of the
present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in
this art from the following detailed description, wherein we have
shown and described only a few embodiments of the invention, simply
by way of illustration. The features and advantages described
herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional
features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill
in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and examples of
claims. As will also be realized, the invention is capable of other
and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of
modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing
from the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that the
language used in the specification has been principally selected
for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the
scope of the inventive subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The invention will be better understood upon reading the
following Detailed Description in conjunction with the drawings in
which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of lid 10 and drinking cup 20
showing reclosable tab 80 in its open position according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of lid 10 and drinking cup
20 through reclosable tab 80 shown in its open position according
to an embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of lid 10 through
reclosable tab 80 shown in its open position according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a top view of lid 10 showing reclosable tab 80 in
its open position according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of lid 10 and drinking cup 20
showing reclosable tab 80 in its closed position according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the lid 10 through
reclosable tab 80 shown in its closed position according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a top view of lid 10 showing reclosable tab 80 in
its closed position according to an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides
a plastic lid with an integral reclosable tab which can be
alternated to an open position or a closed position by a user for
respectively providing a drink-through opening or closing off the
drink-through opening. A particular advantage of the lid made
according to an embodiment of the present invention is the ability
to create a drink-through opening by pulling-out the reclosable
tab; and closing off the drink-through opening by pushing-in the
reclosable tab against a sealing edge or a depending surface. The
reclosable tab of the present invention allows a user to create a
drink-through opening in the lid, without requiring the user to
tear-off a tab away from the body of the lid and without requiring
the tab to be folded-back or locked into a recessed area within the
lid.
[0032] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill that terms
such as "reclosable tab"; "reclosable flap"; "integral reclosable
tab"; "reclosable spout"; "sealable spout"; are used
interchangeably to describe the novel means of the present
invention to effect a "reclosable drink-through opening". It will
be also recognized that the drink-through opening in the lid of the
present invention is in fact created by the "reclosable tab" and is
oftentimes referred to as "reclosable drink-through opening".
[0033] The present invention is generally directed towards a lid
that engages with a drinking cup and is leak resistant. The lid of
the present invention finds particular application in disposable
drinking cups typically used for holding cold and hot beverages
which are generally constructed from paper, plastic or foam
materials. The following description, of one or more embodiments,
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings is offered as
illustrative of the invention but not restrictive of the scope of
the invention.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, there is shown a lid 10
according to one embodiment of the present invention wherein like
reference numerals represent like parts. Lid 10 is adapted to rest
and fit onto a drinking cup 20 and engage with the cup lip 22 as
particularly shown in FIG. 2. Lid 10 has an outer side 30 and an
underside 40. The outer side 30 of lid 10 is intended to be on the
outside when lid 10 is placed on drinking cup 20 in the intended
manner shown typically in FIGS. 1 and 2. Underside 40 of lid 10 is
the side that faces the cup 20 when lid 10 is placed on the cup 20
in the intended manner, again typically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Lid
10 comprises an outer peripheral portion 50, an interim annular
portion 60 lying above outer peripheral portion 50, and a central
body portion 70.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, outer peripheral portion 50 of
lid 10 is adapted for engaging with drinking cup 20, and underside
40 has an underside peripheral channel 54 which typically has a
C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section and which is adapted to grip and
receive the cup lip 22 therein, and thereby form a leak-tight seal
between the respective perimeters of lid 10 and drinking cup 20.
Cup lip 22 may comprise a rolled-lip configuration as shown in FIG.
2. Alternately, cup lip 22 may be in the form of a bead or a
turned-down lip or other similar configuration as is well know to
those skilled in the art.
[0036] Outer peripheral portion 50 of lid 10 also has a peripheral
skirt 52 which extends downwardly from the underside peripheral
channel 54 and flares outwardly therefrom. Peripheral skirt 52
facilitates a good lid-fit by centering and guiding cup lip 22
within peripheral channel 54 when lid 10 is pushed downwardly
against cup lip 22.
[0037] Interim annular portion 60 comprises an outer sidewall 61, a
top wall 62 and an inner sidewall 63. Underside peripheral channel
54 is connected to outer sidewall 61 and defines a peripheral
recess 56 therebetween; peripheral recess 56 is disposed on the
outer side 30 of lid 10. Interim annular portion 60 extends
upwardly from the inward edge of peripheral recess 56 along outer
sidewall 61, including a top wall portion 62 about the frontal
section 65, and slopes downwardly along inner sidewall 63 and
circumscribes central body portion 70 of lid 10. Outer sidewall 61,
top wall 62 and inner sidewall 63 cooperate to form a raised
frontal section 65 and ramp down on either side of the raised
frontal section 65 to form a relatively shallow section 67.
[0038] According to one embodiment, raised frontal section 65
includes a reclosable tab 80. Reclosable tab 80 has a tab front
wall 82 and an arcuate hinge 81 which integrally connects tab front
wall 82 to the outer sidewall 61. Tab front wall 82 of reclosable
tab 80 has an arcuate tab end 83. Reclosable tab 80 can be
alternated between an open position and a closed position by
respectively pulling or pushing on tab front wall 82 proximate to
arcuate tab end 83 and thereby causing tab front wall 82 to flex
about arcuate hinge 81. Arcuate hinge 81 is shown to have a general
parabolic shape although other curved profiles are within the scope
of the invention.
[0039] In FIGS. 1 through 4, reclosable tab 80 is shown in its open
position; and, in FIGS. 5 through 7, reclosable tab 80 is shown in
its closed position. In the embodiment shown herein, reclosable tab
80 is integral to the lid and arcuate hinge 81 integrally connects
tab front wall 82 to the outer side wall 61. In an embodiment of
the invention, the lid 20 is constructed of suitable materials that
inherently have a living hinge property. It will be realized that
tab front wall 82 is characterized by being flexible enough to
allow a user to open and close tab 80 with relative ease. Although
various hinge constructions can be utilized to effectively achieve
the objects of the invention, the integral hinge construction may
comprise a thin membrane junction between the lid body and the
reclosable tab which imparts certain flex characteristics to the
reclosable tab thereby allowing its movement about the integral
hinge.
[0040] Raised frontal section 65 also includes a sealing edge 64
provided in the top wall 62. In the depicted embodiment, sealing
edge 64 has an arcuate periphery which is curved inwardly towards
the center of lid 10 and is of opposite curvature compared to the
outer sidewall 61; in other words sealing edge 64 is concave while
outer sidewall 61 is convex. Other sealing configurations and
profiles are within the scope of the invention.
[0041] In the open position of reclosable tab 80, tab front wall 82
flares outwardly (or convexly) and is spaced away from sealing edge
64 thereby creating a drink-through opening 90 defined by the
`eye-shaped` gap between sealing edge 64 and tab front wall 82 as
shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. Drink-through opening 90 is defined by
a stationary or fixed side provided by sealing edge 64 and a
reclosable or adjustable boundary provided by the tab front wall 82
in its convex (or open) position. Drink-through opening 90 allows a
user to drink therethrough, wherein the shape and size of the
opening 90 depends upon the dimensions of the tab 80.
[0042] Drink-through opening 90 can be closed by pushing tab front
wall 82 towards sealing edge 64. In the closed position of
reclosable tab 80, tab front wall 82 curves inwardly (or concavely)
and seals against sealing edge 64 as best shown in FIG. 6. It will
be realized by those of ordinary skill that the sealing edge
surface may be further modified to include a smooth bead or
depending skirt for facilitating sealing. Arcuate tab end 83
projects slightly above sealing edge 64 as shown in FIG. 6, for
allowing accessibility thereto so that a user can comfortably pull
tab front wall 82 and reopen reclosable tab 80. Sealing edge 64 is
adapted to provide a sealing or depending surface against which
reclosable tab 80 can be pushed closed. In its closed position
reclosable tab 80 closes drink-through opening 90 as shown in FIGS.
5 through 7.
[0043] The raised frontal section 65 and reclosable tab 80 are
adapted and dimensioned for positioning them between user's lips
for comfortably drinking therethrough. Reclosable tab 80 is adapted
for allowing a user to open or close drink-through opening 90 by
respectively pulling or pushing tab front wall 82 away from or
against sealing edge 64. Tab front wall 82 and arcuate tab end 83
are also suitably dimensioned to allow a user to manipulate them
with his/her thumb or finger. A feature of the reclosable tab 80 is
that it is flexible enough to allows a user to close the
drink-through opening 90 by pushing on tab front wall 82; yet it is
resilient enough to prevent a user from accidentally or
inadvertently closing it while the user is drinking therethrough.
The height of the tab 80 in one embodiment extends slightly above
the height of the raised front section 65 thereby allowing the user
to easily manipulate the tab 80.
[0044] The inner sidewall 63 of the interim annual portion 60 is
connected to the central body portion 70 of lid 10 via mid wall 72.
Mid wall 72 may also include a centrally located vent hole 74. Vent
hole 74 is adapted for maintaining pressure equilibrium between the
interior of the lidded cup and the surroundings to allow the user
to comfortably drink from the cup. Vent hole 74 may further serve
as a drain hole for any excess beverage that accidentally overflows
on the top of central body portion 70.
[0045] Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, lid 10 is
made by the process of injection molding. However, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that lid 10 can be adapted for
manufacture by other known methods of processing plastics.
Preferably, lid 10 is made of a suitable thermoplastic material
which can be processed by common polymer processing methods known
in the art. The choice of a thermoplastic resin is typically
governed by a variety of factors including cost, resin
processability and other functional requirements of the plastic
part. In one embodiment of the invention, lid 10 is made from a
suitable grade of polypropylene resin that features living-hinge
properties for optimal functioning and sustained operation of the
integral reclosable tab 80.
[0046] Numerous other embodiments are possible and within the scope
of the invention. For example, although various general functional
elements of lid 10 and particularly reclosable tab 80 have been
described herein in conjunction with FIGS. 1 through 7, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous shape,
appearance and design modifications can be made to lid 10 and
reclosable tab 80 in accordance with user and market preferences.
Furthermore, the utility of the reclosable spout integrated within
lid 10 is not necessarily limited to a drinking-cup lid and can be
implemented into other container structures such as a closure for a
bottle, a pour spout for a bottle or a carton or a cup. These and
other such changes, modifications, adaptations and alterations in
the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly,
the drawing and description are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive.
* * * * *