U.S. patent application number 12/412609 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for beverage cup lid.
Invention is credited to David Wayne Richey.
Application Number | 20100243652 12/412609 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42769488 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100243652 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richey; David Wayne |
September 30, 2010 |
BEVERAGE CUP LID
Abstract
The invention relates to a beverage cup lid including an
elongated channel that extends from the drinking port to a terminus
below the lid's lower edge. The elongated channel may thus extend
into a beverage contained in a beverage cup.
Inventors: |
Richey; David Wayne;
(Anchorage, AK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP/Los Angeles
865 FIGUEROA STREET, SUITE 2400
LOS ANGELES
CA
90017-2566
US
|
Family ID: |
42769488 |
Appl. No.: |
12/412609 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00305
20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; A47G
19/2272 20130101; B65D 2543/00277 20130101; B65D 43/0212 20130101;
B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 51/32 20130101; B65D 2543/00046
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/00 20060101
B65D051/00 |
Claims
1. A beverage cup lid, comprising: a drinking port; an elongated
channel in fluid communication with the drinking port and further
comprising a terminus; and a lower edge, wherein the terminus is
located below the lower edge.
2. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, wherein the terminus is located
at a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch
below the lower edge.
3. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, wherein the terminus is located
at a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch
above the bottom of a beverage cup to which the beverage cup lid is
adapted to mate.
4. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, wherein the terminus is located
at a distance between about one inch below the lower edge and about
one inch above the bottom of a beverage cup to which the beverage
cup lid is adapted to mate.
5. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, further comprising means to
mate the beverage cup lid with a beverage cup.
6. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, further comprising a secondary
port adapted to allow air to pass through the beverage cup lid.
7. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, wherein the elongated channel
comprises a cross-sectional shape selected from the group
consisting of D-shaped, round, ovular, square, triangular,
rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal and combinations thereof.
8. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, wherein the elongated channel
is either substantially linear along its length or comprises a
curvature along its length.
9. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, wherein the elongated channel
comprises: a portion proximal to the drinking port that is
enclosed, and a portion distal to the drinking port that is open
along one side.
10. The beverage cup lid of claim 1, wherein the elongated channel
comprises a portion distal to the drinking port comprising a
substantially flat element.
11. In combination, a beverage cup and a beverage cup lid, the
beverage cup lid comprising: a drinking port, an elongated channel
in fluid communication with the drinking port and further
comprising a terminus, and a lower edge, wherein the terminus is
located below the lower edge and the beverage cup is mated to the
beverage cup lid.
12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the terminus is located at
a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch
below the lower edge.
13. The combination of claim 11, wherein the terminus is located at
a distance of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch
above the bottom of the beverage cup.
14. The combination of claim 11, wherein the terminus is located at
a distance between about one inch below the lower edge and about
one inch above the bottom of the beverage cup.
15. The combination of claim 11, wherein the beverage cup lid is
mated to the beverage cup with a mechanism selected from the group
consisting of a pressure fitting, a screw threading, a
tongue-and-groove assembly, a hinge assembly and combinations
thereof.
16. The combination of claim 11, wherein the beverage cup lid
further comprises a secondary port adapted to allow air to pass
through the beverage cup lid.
17. The combination of claim 11, wherein the elongated channel
comprises a cross-sectional shape selected from the group
consisting of D-shaped, round, ovular, square, triangular,
rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal and combinations thereof.
18. The combination of claim 11, wherein the elongated channel is
either substantially linear along its length or comprises a
curvature along its length.
19. The combination of claim 11, wherein the elongated channel
comprises: a portion proximal to the drinking port that is
enclosed, and a portion distal to the drinking port that is open
along one side.
20. The combination of claim 11, wherein the elongated channel
comprises a portion distal to the drinking port comprising a
substantially flat element.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of beverage cups, and
lids useful with the same; particularly those that include an
elongated channel that reaches below the rim of a cup when mated to
it.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Disposable beverage cups are known in the art, as are a
variety of lids configured to be used in connection with them. Some
common elements of these lids are that they mate to the rim of a
beverage cup by a pressure or similar fitting (i.e., snapping over
the rim), and have at least one port configured in them through
which a user can drink the beverage contained in the cup.
Sometimes, a second, smaller port is included in the lid to allow
air to enter the cup as a user drinks through the main port. The
lid generally aids in preventing the contents of the cup from
spilling, and helps to retain the temperature of those
contents.
[0003] Conventional lid and cup configurations suffer from a number
of disadvantages.
[0004] First, when hot beverages contained in a cup-lid assembly
are imbibed by a user, the user drinks the beverage from the top
down; that is, the first volume of the beverage to reach the user's
mouth is the volume at or near the top of the cup, and the last
volume of beverage to reach the user's mouth is at or near the
bottom. It is a matter of simple physics that heat rises, and that,
therefore, the volume of liquid at the top of a beverage cup is
hotter than the volume of liquid at the bottom. Thus, in drinking a
hot beverage from a conventional cup-lid assembly, a user first
drinks the hottest portion, and last drinks the coolest portion.
This is not optimal.
[0005] Second, to cool a hot beverage contained in a beverage cup,
a user typically blows air across the top surface of the beverage.
This is difficult to do through a conventional lid, and often
results in hot liquid splashing up through the port and/or
insufficient cooling of the beverage. This, too, is not
optimal.
[0006] Third, conventional cup-lid assemblies provide no mechanism
with which a user can stir the contents of the beverage cup. One
might insert a coffee stirrer through the main port in the lid, but
the stirrer often falls through into the cup or such a utensil is
simply unavailable and inconvenient. In some cases, one might need
to remove the lid and then use a spoon, stirrer or other apparatus
that is not disposable and/or that is shared with other users,
which is both inconvenient and unsanitary. This also presents
problems.
[0007] A beverage cup lid that substantially overcomes these and
other shortcomings of the prior art would be desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures,
where like numerals represent similar items. It is intended that
the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered
illustrative rather than restrictive.
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a beverage cup lid in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of a beverage cup lid in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear view of a beverage cup lid in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a right side view of a beverage cup lid in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a left side of a beverage cup lid in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top view of a beverage cup lid in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a beverage cup lid in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a beverage cup lid mated to
a beverage cup, which is depicted in broken lines, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIGS. 9(a), 9(b) and 9(c) depict, in series, the flow of a
beverage from a beverage cup through a beverage cup lid in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the
same extent as if each individual publication or patent application
was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by
reference. The following description includes information that may
be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an
admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art
or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any
publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0019] One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and
materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which
could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the
present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials
described.
[0020] The invention relates to beverage cup lids and methods of
using the same. In various embodiments, the inventive beverage cup
lids include an elongated channel that extends from the drinking
port to a terminus below the lower edge of the lids. The lower edge
mates with the rim of a beverage cup, and thus, the elongated
channel may extend into the beverage itself when the beverage cup
is filled with a beverage. The elongated channel may be in any of a
variety of configurations, each having certain advantages and uses.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear in
the ensuing discussion and with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0021] As illustratively depicted in FIGS. 1-8, in one embodiment
the invention relates to a beverage cup lid 100 with a lower edge
101. References herein to "lid" and "beverage cup lid" refer to the
same element of the instant invention. The lids of the invention
may be configured to mate with a variety of beverage cups, of a
variety of shapes and sizes, as will be readily appreciated by
those of skill in the art and implemented with only routine
engineering effort. The lower edge 101 of the lid 100 may be
configured to mate with a beverage cup 102 by any suitable and/or
desirable mechanism, including, but in no way limited to, a
pressure or similar fitting (i.e., snapping the lower edge of the
lid over the rim of the beverage cup), a screw threading (i.e.,
internal threading on the lower edge of the lid interacts with
external threading on or near the rim of the beverage cup, or
external threading on the lower edge of the lid interacts with
internal threading on or near the rim of the beverage cup), a
tongue-and-groove assembly (i.e., a partial turn of the lid with
reference to the beverage cup mates the two together), a hinge
assembly (i.e., the lid is configured to swing open and closed
relative to the beverage cup), combinations thereof and the like.
In some embodiments (not shown), rather than being configured to
mate with a beverage cup in a removable fashion, the lid is
integrated into or upon the beverage cup, and is thus not removable
therefrom. In the figures included herewith, the lower edge 101 of
the lid 100 is illustratively configured to mate with a beverage
cup 102 by a pressure fitting.
[0022] The lid 100 includes an elongated channel 103 that extends
from a drinking port 104 to a terminus 107 below the lower edge 101
of the lid 100. The lid 100 may also include a secondary port 106.
In operation, when the beverage cup 102 contains a beverage 105 and
the lid 100 is mated to the beverage cup 102, a user may drink the
beverage 105 from the beverage cup 102 through the elongated
channel 103 and the drinking port 104, and, in those embodiments
where it is included, air may simultaneously travel into the
beverage cup 102 through the secondary port 106.
[0023] In various embodiments, the elongated channel 103 can be
configured in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, the
elongated channel 103 is configured to be in mechanical contact
with the inside surface of a beverage cup in which it resides.
[0024] First, the elongated channel 103 may range in length. In its
shortest configuration, it extends from the drinking port 104 to a
location just below the lower edge 101 of the lid 100. In its
longest configuration, it extends from the drinking port 104 to a
location just above the bottom of the beverage cup 102 with which
the lid 100 is configured to mate. In alternate embodiments of the
invention, the elongated channel 103 may extend from the drinking
port 104 to a location from just below the lower edge of the lid
100 to a location just above the bottom of the beverage cup 102. As
used herein, the phrases "just above" and "just below" describe
distances of from about one-tenth of an inch to about one inch
relative to a particular point of reference.
[0025] Second, the elongated channel 103 may range in
cross-sectional configuration. It may be substantially round along
its length (i.e., cylindrical), or it may be "D-shaped" such that a
rounded part reflects the inner curvature of a beverage cup, or it
may be of any other desirable shape in cross-section (e.g., round,
ovular, square, triangular, rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal,
etc.). In some embodiments, the elongated channel 103 is
substantially consistent in cross-sectional shape along its length.
In other embodiments, the elongated channel 103 is not consistent
in cross-sectional shape along its length--it changes in shape,
dimension, thickness, etc. In some embodiments, the elongated
channel 103 is substantially linear, while in other embodiments it
includes a curvature. In still further embodiments, the elongated
channel 103 may be enclosed along the portion 103a of it proximal
to the drinking port 104 (such that it operates similarly to a
straw), but may be open along one side along the portion 103b of it
distal to the drinking port 104. In one embodiment, the portion
103b distal to the drinking port 104 may be substantially flat
(i.e., including no more than a modest curvature); thereby enabling
its use as a stirring apparatus for, by way of example, mixing
condiments into a beverage 105 contained in the beverage cup 102.
Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a wide array of
alternate configurations along the lines of that which is described
above, each of which is contemplated as being within the scope of
the present invention.
[0026] The beverage cup lid may be constructed from any number of
materials, as will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the
art. Simply by way of example, the lids may be manufactured from
plastic (much like conventional, disposable beverage cup lids), or
from glass, stainless steel, PTFE, ceramic or any other material
that may be desirable and/or useful. The beverage cup lids of the
present invention may be configured as disposable or one-time-use
products or as products that are reused. A material may be selected
accordingly.
[0027] The beverage cup lids are configured for use in connection
with hot beverages, cold beverages, or any other food material that
one may consume through such an assembly (e.g., soup, hot cereal,
chili, etc.). References throughout to hot beverages and the like
should not in any way suggest that the lid of the present invention
is limited in any manner to use for or with such products. For
instance, beverages in which ice is contained may be consumed
through the lid of the present invention.
[0028] The invention described herein has a number of advantages
over the prior art. In addition to those advantages described thus
far, and simply by way of example, when the inventive beverage cup
lid is used with a beverage cup containing a hot beverage, a user
may drink from the cooler part of the beverage first (i.e., the
volume of beverage nearest to the bottom of the beverage cup), and
the hottest part last (i.e., the volume of the beverage nearest to
the top of the beverage cup). This allows a user to begin
comfortably and safely drinking the hot beverage sooner, with less
chance of being burned. A hot beverage may also thus retain its
heat longer, because it is generally the coolest part of the
beverage that is being imbibed at any point in time. Additionally,
in various embodiments, the elongated channel may be used as a
stirring mechanism both for cooling a hot beverage and for mixing
condiments into it. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when tilted
to drink, the elongated channel provides an increased surface area,
relative to that which is available with conventional lids, across
which a user may blow air to more easily cool a hot beverage. Still
further, the elongated channel enables a loosened lid to freely sit
in and securely rest against the rim of a beverage cup while a user
adds condiments (as opposed to having to set the lid over on a
counter or other surface that may be contaminated). This keeps the
lid clean and enables the user to utilize only one hand--while
cupping the lid in one hand, a rocking back and forth of the wrist
allows the elongated channel to stir condiments into a beverage.
Finally, the inventive lid also reduces the chance for a beverage
to slosh out of a drinking port.
[0029] Various embodiments of the invention are described above in
the Detailed Description. While these descriptions directly
describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled
in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the
specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such
modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this
description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless
specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the
words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the
ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the
applicable art(s).
[0030] The foregoing description of various embodiments of the
invention known to the applicant at this time of filing the
application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of
illustration and description. The present description is not
intended to be exhaustive nor limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible
in the light of the above teachings. The embodiments described
serve to explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the
invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as
are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore, it is
intended that the invention not be limited to the particular
embodiments disclosed for carrying out the invention.
[0031] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and
modifications may be made without departing from this invention and
its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to
encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as
are within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely
defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those
within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially
in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are
generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including"
should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term
"having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term
"includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited
to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art
that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is
intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim,
and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present.
For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended
claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one"
and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use
of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a"
or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced
claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation,
even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or
more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an"
(e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at
least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of
definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition,
even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is
explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that
such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least
the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations).
[0032] Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the
appended claims.
* * * * *