U.S. patent application number 11/513326 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for hot cup lid.
This patent application is currently assigned to DOPACO, INC.. Invention is credited to Liming Cai.
Application Number | 20080054005 11/513326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39150087 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080054005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cai; Liming |
March 6, 2008 |
Hot cup lid
Abstract
A hot cup lid providing alternating modes of access to the
contents of a cup, the lid including an enlarged drinking opening
selectively closed by a tear flap, and a smaller sipping opening
diametrically aligned with the drinking opening and adjacent the
periphery of the lid, the tear flap including a sealing lug thereon
engageable within and closing the sipping opening upon pivotal
movement of the flap to open the drinking opening.
Inventors: |
Cai; Liming; (West Chester,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNISON, SCHULTZ & MACDONALD
1727 KING STREET, SUITE 105
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
DOPACO, INC.
|
Family ID: |
39150087 |
Appl. No.: |
11/513326 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/711 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00046
20130101; B65D 2543/00351 20130101; B65D 47/0847 20130101; B65D
43/0212 20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00796
20130101; B65D 2543/00509 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D
2543/00731 20130101; B65D 2543/00555 20130101; B65D 2543/00685
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/711 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. An adjustable counterweight for use in construction equipment,
said counterweight comprising: a body having a first section, a
central section and a second section, said first section
horizontally adjacent to said central section which is horizontally
adjacent to said second section, said first section defines a first
cavity therein and said second section defines a second cavity
therein; and at least two weight plate defined within each of the
cavities of said first section and said second section, wherein
each weight plate within a cavity is removably secured to said body
of said counterweight on a common horizontal support and is
horizontally displaced alone said support relative to another plate
in said cavity.
2. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
weight plate comprises a body having a peripheral edge and defining
a hole spaced from the peripheral edge of said body, wherein said
horizontal support is a bar, and wherein the hole is adapted to
receive a said bar for securing said weight plate to said body of
said counterweight.
3. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 2, wherein a
plurality of holes is defined in said body of said weight plate for
securing said weight plate to said body of said counterweight.
4. (canceled)
5. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
body of said counterweight is made of a unitary piece of solid
material.
6. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first cavity and the second cavity comprise angled or curved
profiles.
7. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 6, wherein each
adjacent weight plate is shaped to fit the contour of the angled
profile of the first cavity and the second cavity of said body of
said counterweight.
8. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
angled profile of the first cavity is different from the angled
profile of the second cavity.
9. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 7, wherein each
weight plate within the first cavity has a different size and
shape, and each weight plate within the second cavity has a
different size and shape.
10. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said bar passes through the hole in said weight plate and attaches
to said body of said counterweight.
11. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 10, wherein
said body of said counterweight defines a plurality of openings
therein, wherein said bar passes through the openings for attaching
said bar to said body of said counterweight.
12. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said bar comprises a receiving portion, said counterweight further
comprising a spacer sleeve adapted to fit onto said receiving
portion of said bar thereby restricting axial movement of said
weight plates along the bar within each of the cavities of said
body of said counterweight.
13. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 12, wherein a
spacer sleeve defines a slot therein, said spacer sleeve is adapted
to abut against said weight plates when the slot is received on
said receiving portion of said bar.
14. The adjustable counterweight as claimed in claim 13, wherein
said receiving portion of said bar corresponds to the shape of the
slot of said sleeve such that the rotation of said spacer sleeve is
prevented when said spacer sleeve is received onto said receiving
portion of said bar.
15. An adjustable counterweight in combination with construction
equipment having a body with a revolving superstructure thereon,
and the counterweight placed in the rear of the revolving
superstructure, the counterweight comprising a body having a first
section, a central section horizontally adjacent to said first
section, and a second section horizontally adjacent to said central
section, said first section and said second section each define a
cavity therein; and at least two weight plates defined within each
of the adjacent cavities of said first section and said second
section, wherein each weight plate within a cavity is removably
secured to said body of said counterweight on a common horizontal
support and is horizontally displaced along said support relative
to another plate in said cavity.
16. A method of loading an adjustable counterweight onto a
construction vehicle, said method comprising: a) providing a
counterweight comprising a body having a first section, a central
section and a second section, said first section horizontally
adiacent to said central section, said second section horizontally
adiacent to said central section, said first section and said
second section each define a cavity; b) mounting at least two
weight plates within each cavity of said first section and said
second section of said body, wherein each weight plate is
positioned along a common horizontal support and is horizontally
displaced along said support relative to another plate; c) securing
said weight plate to said body via said horizontal support, wherein
said horizontal support is a bar passing through the hole in said
weight plate and attached to said body of said counterweight; and
d) attaching said counterweight to a construction vehicle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Hot beverages, normally coffee, tea or the like, are
frequently sold as a take-out item and supplied in disposable cups
with thin plastic lids. Such lids are generally of two types, lids
which are to be removed in their entirety for access to the
contents of the cup, and lids which utilize a fold-back or tear
back flap to expose a large drinking opening.
[0002] If the lid is to be removed in its entirety when consuming
the contents of the cup, the lid will frequently include a sipping
opening which allows the consumer to cautiously sip the beverage
until such time as the coffee has sufficiently cooled to allow for
a direct drinking thereof from the cup. In those lids wherein a
closure flap is provided, the opening formed upon removal of the
flap must be quite substantial to allow for a drinking of the
coffee in a normal and rather high flow manner. Sipping through
such an opening, particularly when the beverage is very hot, can be
troublesome.
[0003] As consumer preferences in lids will vary, a supplier of the
dispensed beverage will frequently have to stock both types of lids
to meet customer requirements.
[0004] Patents of general interest with regard to the environment
of the invention include Lane et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,927
wherein the lid, in addition to providing an enlarged drinking
opening with a closure flap, also includes a small vent 74 opening
within a rather deep recess 72 for the venting of steam. Such a
steam venting hole would have no sipping capability.
[0005] Another such patent is Zettle et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,019
B2 which, in addition to an enlarged drinking opening or spout 108
through the lid itself, also includes a straw hole 106 with a
gasket 200. This hole, because of its structure specifically for
the accommodation of a straw, is unlikely to be used to access hot
liquids. Further, positioning of the straw opening substantially
inward from the edge portion of the lid will preclude any
possibility of a cautious sipping of the cup contents
therethrough.
[0006] The patent to Warden et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,843
discloses a breakout section which is pushed inward to provide a
drinking opening. This patent also discloses a highly restricted
vent opening which is probably necessary to facilitate flow of
fluid through the rather restricted drinking opening, and clearly
is not intended to, and could not, as constructed, permit a sipping
therethrough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is particularly directed to a multiple
function cup lid which can, at the option of the user, allow a
controlled sipping, as would be desirable when the contents of the
cup are too hot for a conventional drinking, and an unrestricted
drinking of the contents as the liquid cools. The capability of the
single lid of the invention to provide for two modes of direct
access to the contents of a hot container, without removal of the
lid, avoids the necessity of providing a separate lid for each
drinking mode. Rather, both modes are accommodated by a unique
single lid.
[0008] Basically the lid, formed of a conventional thermoplastic
material or the like, provides a tear back flap joined by an
integral or living hinge to a central portion of the lid body. The
flap, when closed and prior to tearing or breaking away, has an
outer rim portion defining a downwardly opening cavity which
frictionally engages the conventional beaded lip of a cup. The
remainder of the lid has a similarly configured peripheral rim for
sealing of the entire lid to the container or cup. The flap, when a
drinking of the contents of the cup is desired, will, through a
lifting of the rim portion of the flap, break away and pivot
rearwardly. This will expose the lip of the cup itself for a direct
engagement of the user's lips with the cup lip and a direct
drinking of the contents, as would be the case were the entire lid
removed, while still retaining a substantial protective enclosure
of the cup contents.
[0009] The lid, in an area diametrically aligned with the flap,
also includes a raised ridge at the outer periphery of the lid.
This ridge is provided with the sipping opening therethrough
aligned with the tear flap. The positioning of the sipping opening
in the raised portion or ridge, positions the sipping opening
substantially above the maximum fill line of the cup, normally at
or slightly below the beaded lip thereof. In addition, the ridge
uniquely provides for a convenient access to the sipping opening by
the mouth of the drinker with the lips positioned to each side
thereof for controlled access to the contents in the sipping
mode.
[0010] When drinking through the drinking opening, it is desirable
to close the sipping opening which, while relatively small, is
clearly larger than a restricted vent opening through which
accidental discharge is not normally a problem. Accordingly, a
projecting tab is integrally formed with the rim portion of the
flap and extends beyond the rim forming periphery of the lid. This
tab, upon an opening of the flap and a swinging of the flap fully
backward, will engage over and close the sipping opening. This
closing of the sipping opening is enhanced and an effective seal
thereof provided, by a projecting lug on the tab configured to
conform to the configuration of the sipping opening for a snug
engagement therein. The engagement of the lug in the sipping
opening will also act so as to hold the flap in its open
position.
[0011] Further objects and features of the invention will become
apparent from the detailed description of the invention following
hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the lid of the invention
mounted to a hot cup with the tear flap closed and with the sipping
opening open;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view with the tear flap
released and pivoted rearwardly to overlie the lid and seal the
sipping opening;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the lid
itself taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3-3 in
FIG. 1 with the flap in its closed position; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail through the lid
itself taken substantially on a plane passing along line 4-4 in
FIG. 2 and illustrating the flap in its open position.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the hot cup
lid 10 of the invention is illustrated, in FIGS. 1 and 2, engaged
over the open mouth of a hot cup 12. The cup 12, in the manner of
conventional hot cups, includes an outwardly rolled edge about the
open mouth thereof which defines a cup lip 14. The lid 10 includes
a top or top panel 16 and a peripheral rim 18 adapted to snap-mount
and seal to the cup lip. The lid rim 18, noting FIGS. 3 and 4,
includes a downwardly directed cavity 20 which seats on the cup lip
14, an outer skirt 22, preferably including an inwardly directed
locking bead 24, and an inner rim skirt 26 defining the cavity 20
and engageable against the inner surface of the cup 12.
[0017] The height of the top 16 above the peripheral rim 18 varies
from a maximum height with a side wall 28 extending between the top
16 and the inner rim skirt 26 therebelow to a generally
diametrically opposed position wherein the top 16 engages directly
with the inner rim skirt 26 substantially below the cavity 20
defined thereby. Basically, the top 16 is of a constant height for
a substantial portion of the lid 10 and, at a break point indicated
by 30, slopes, as indicated at 32, progressively downward, to the
rim, with a corresponding progressive decrease in the height of the
lid side wall 28. Note in particular the left side of the
cross-sectional details of FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0018] The lid 10 includes a central recess 34, the depth of which
below the top 16 is such whereby the bottom 38 of the recess 34 is
positioned substantially above the peripheral rim 18. The recess 34
is of a size and so configured as to define or retain a peripheral
ridge 40 about a major portion of the lid, including the full
height portion thereof and an extent of the downwardly sloping area
32, note in particular FIGS. 1 and 2. This ridge 40 is defined by
the flat top 16, the side wall 28 and an inner wall 42 which also
defines the peripheral wall of the recess 34.
[0019] A flap-accommodating channel 44 extends radially outward
from the relatively higher recess bottom 38 centrally through the
sloping portion of the top 16 to the cup rim 18.
[0020] A tear flap 46 extends centrally along the channel 44 and is
defined by laterally spaced parallel tear or break lines 48 in and
along the bottom of the channel 44 and through the aligned section
or portion 50 of the lid rim 18. The inner end of the flap 46 is
pivotally joined to the bottom 38 of the recess by an appropriate
living hinge 52. The flap also includes an integral tab 54 on and
projecting outward from the outer skirt portion of the rim portion
50 of the flap with this tab 54, having an upwardly projecting
sealing lug 56 thereon.
[0021] The flap 46, when one desired to drink from the cup 12, is
grasped by the tab 56 and upwardly and rearwardly pivoted, causing
a parting of the tear or break lines 48 as well as a disengagement
of the rim portion 50 integral therewith. The drinking opening thus
formed is of a substantial size and, by a removal of the rim
portion 50 with the flap, exposes the cup lip 14 for direct access
thereto by the drinker, much in the manner of drinking from an open
top cup. This substantially free access to the contents of the cup
will also be facilitated by the inclined nature of the portion 32
of the top, which allows for an accommodation of the upper lip of
the drinker. As desired, the bottom of the channel 44 can be
strengthened or stabilized immediately outward of the tear lines 48
by a pair of downwardly directed ribs 60 formed therein and
paralleling the tear lines 48 for a major portion of the length
thereof.
[0022] The top 16, and more particularly the flat top ridge portion
thereof formed by the recess 34, at a point diametrically opposed
from the flap and opening 48 formed thereby, includes a sipping
opening 62 therethrough. This sipping opening 62 is, as opposed to
the drinking opening 58, of a size so as to allow for a controlled
sipping of the hot contents of the cup therethrough until such time
as the contents have sufficiently cooled so as to allow for a
conventional drinking thereof through the drinking opening 58. It
will be noted that this sipping opening 62 is provided immediately
adjacent the outer periphery of the lid for convenient and safe
access thereto and to the hot liquid to issue therefrom in a
controlled manner. Further, the ridge 40 within which the sipping
opening 62 is defined, allows for a convenient positioning of the
mouth of the drinker when accessing the sipping opening. The
elevated positioning of the sipping opening 62 at the uppermost
position of the lid, will also provide for at least a small cooling
effect as the hot liquid flows through the lid to the sipping
opening.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 in particular, when the larger
drinking opening 58 is to be accessed, the flap 46 is upwardly and
rearwardly pivoted and releasably retained in its open position by
engagement of the lug 56 on the tab 54 within the sipping opening
62. The sipping opening and lug are of complimentary configurations
whereby the lug completely seals the sipping opening to prevent any
accidental discharge therefrom as the drinking opening 58 is
accessed. Further, in order to accommodate the projecting rim
section 50 integral with the flap 46, and thus not interfere with
the sealing engagement of the lug 56 within the sipping opening 62,
a pocket or pocket area 64 will be provided at the rear of the
recess 34 immediately forward of the ridge 40 within which the
sipping opening 62 is defined. The pocket 64, as will be readily
recognized, is appropriately aligned to receive the rim section 50.
It will also be recognized that this pocket 64, will provide for a
further accommodation of the lid to the drinker's mouth as the
sipping opening is accessed.
[0024] Inasmuch as the flap 46 incorporates a section or portion 50
of the locking rim 18, the flap can be reclosed for a substantially
resealing of the drinking opening. It should also be appreciated
that the hot cup lid of the invention can be formed of any
appropriate thermoplastic or like material standard in the
formation of cup lids and which will allow for the provision of
tear or break lines, a living hinge, and a snap mounting of the lid
rim and flap rim portion to a conventional hot cup.
[0025] As described, the lid is unique in its multi-functional
capacity, providing, at the option of the drinker, a sipping of the
contents of the cup through a small sipping opening upwardly
removed from the fill level of the cup, and, upon a sufficient
cooling of the cup contents to the drinker's preference, a direct
drinking through an enlarged drinking opening provided in the lid
which exposes the cup lip itself and provides direct access to the
contents thereof as one would have in an open mouth cup. This is
achieved while at the same time retaining a partial enclosure of
the cup to maintain the warmth thereof and avoid accidental
spillage.
[0026] The foregoing is considered illustrative of the principles
of the invention. As modifications and variations may occur to
those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention
to the exact construction and manner of use as shown and described.
Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted
to as falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *