U.S. patent application number 12/758746 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-13 for lid container apparatus.
Invention is credited to JAVAD MEHRVIJEH.
Application Number | 20110248033 12/758746 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44760194 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110248033 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MEHRVIJEH; JAVAD |
October 13, 2011 |
LID CONTAINER APPARATUS
Abstract
The invention is a lid apparatus with a removable member
positioned within a groove insert on the top portion of the lid
apparatus that creates a cavity space for containing within it a
plurality of beverage related accessories.
Inventors: |
MEHRVIJEH; JAVAD; (Laguna
Hills, CA) |
Family ID: |
44760194 |
Appl. No.: |
12/758746 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/02 20130101;
B65D 2543/00046 20130101; B65D 51/245 20130101; B65D 2205/02
20130101; B65D 2203/02 20130101; B65D 51/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.3 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/28 20060101
B65D051/28; B65D 51/18 20060101 B65D051/18 |
Claims
1. A beverage container lid having a storage compartment,
comprising: a body for substantially covering an opening of the
beverage container, the body having a lower portion and an upper
portion; a removeably attachable member for securely coupling to
the body; and a means for securely attaching the member to the
upper portion of the body; wherein the removeably attachable member
attached to said upper portion of said body creates a storage
compartment between the body and the member, providing a storage
enclosure for a plurality of beverage accessories.
2. The lid of claim 1, further comprising an opening in said upper
portion for beverage output.
3. The lid of claim 1, further comprising an airflow port for air
pressure equalization.
4. The lid of claim 1, wherein the means for secure attachment of
the member to the body comprises a groove insert located in said
upper portion for removable attachment.
5. The lid of claim 4, wherein said groove insert comprises the
same shape as that portion of said member that is attached within
said groove insert.
6. The lid of claim 5, wherein said groove insert containing said
member are located on the opposite side of said body from said
opening for beverage output.
7. The lid of claim 1, wherein the member further comprises a
display for advertising information.
8. The lid of claim 1, wherein the means for secure attachment of
the member to the body comprises at least one hinge for rotation
about an axis parallel to the upper portion to provide for
substantial enclosure for the storage compartment.
9. The lid of claim 1, wherein the means for secure attachment of
the member to the body comprises a pair of hinges for rotation
about an axis parallel to the upper portion to provide for
substantial enclosure for the storage compartment.
10. The lid of claim 1, wherein the means for secure attachment of
the member to the body comprises a pivotal member for rotation
about an axis perpendicular to the upper portion for substantial
enclosure for the storage compartment.
11. The lid of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment is used to
house a napkin.
12. A beverage container lid having a storage compartment,
comprising: a body for substantially covering an opening of a
beverage container; and a fixed member coupled to the body; wherein
the fixed member and the body create a storage compartment
substantially enclosed between the body and the fixed member,
providing a means for storage of beverage accessories.
13. The beverage container lid of claim 12, wherein the body
further comprises a lower portion for attaching to a beverage
container and an upper portion containing the fixed member and an
opening for beverage output.
14. The beverage container lid of claim 13, wherein the fixed
member covers a substantial area of upper portion and is located
opposite the opening for beverage output.
15. The beverage container lid of claim 12, wherein the storage
compartment is used to house a beverage accessory.
16. The beverage container lid of claim 15, wherein the beverage
accessory further comprises a napkin.
17. A beverage container lid having a storage cavity for storing
beverage accessories, comprising: a groove insert positioned within
an upper surface of the lid; and a panel for removeably coupling to
the groove insert; wherein the panel coupled to the groove insert
creates a storage cavity substantially enclosed between an exterior
surface of the lid and the coupled panel.
18. The beverage container lid of claim 17, wherein the storage
cavity is used to house a beverage accessory.
19. The beverage container lid of claim 18, wherein the beverage
accessory further comprises a napkin.
20. The beverage container lid of claim 18, wherein the beverage
accessory further comprises a packet of sugar.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates in general to a lid apparatus,
and more specifically, to a lid apparatus with a removable panel
positioned within a groove insert on the top portion of the lid
apparatus that creates a cavity space for containing within it a
plurality of beverage related accessories.
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may
contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner
has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the
patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
[0003] Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or
registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated
with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of
example and shall not be construed as descriptive or to limit the
scope of this invention to material associated only with such
marks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Drinking cup lids serve a variety of useful and decorative
purposes. They range from acting as labels, to facilitating the
drinking or pouring process, to limiting the oxygen exposure of
contents, to acting as toys, to merely sitting there as a
decoration. A lid is constrained by the opening in the cup that it
is made for, thus lids come in as many shapes and sizes as there
are cups.
[0005] The restaurant service industry makes particular use of lids
to facilitate spill-free drinking of both hot and cold beverages.
Because take-out food services allow customers to consume food and
beverages on the go, beverage lids prevent spilling as beverages
are consumed while walking or driving. As most cups in the take-out
industry are disposable, so too are the lids that come with them.
Plastic is the preferred material for disposable lids as it is
cheap to produce, easily molded into irregular shapes, and will
retain those shapes as it is stretched and fit onto a cup's
opening.
[0006] Restaurants often carry disposable cups of different
volumes, but with the same size opening so the different sized cups
can all use the same disposable lid. Cold beverage lids are made so
that they may be easily punctured by a drinking straw. Hot beverage
lids stand above the rim of a cup and make room for lips to
surround a protruding hole without touching the hot sides of the
cup itself. This allows one to carefully sip the contents of the
cup without getting burned.
[0007] Factors that can affect the value of hot and cold beverage
lids are their ease of use, number of uses, reliability, and
aesthetic design. Reliability is the most important factor as
spilling the contents of a beverage due to a faulty lid results in
customer dissatisfaction at the very least and has the potential to
result in liability for damages or injuries. Besides preventing
contents from spilling out and helping one drink the beverage, hot
and cold beverage lids can have many more uses. Notable examples of
additional uses are multiple upward indentations that one may press
inward to label a beverage, indentations in the lid that outline
aesthetic patterns, extrusions that are meant to fit into cup
holders, and flaps that hang at the side of cups so that one may
grip the flaps instead of the cup.
[0008] There is a continual need in the art for a beverage lid that
has more uses than the beverage lids currently in use.
Specifically, there is a need for a device that holds restaurant
and beverage accessories in addition to the existing beverage uses
that lids already have in the restaurant industry. It is to these
ends that the present invention has been developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to
minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and
understanding the present specification, the present invention
describes a hot beverage lid that can store small restaurant
accessories in a cavity.
[0010] A beverage container lid having a storage compartment, in
accordance with the present invention, comprising a body for
substantially covering an opening of the beverage container, the
body having a lower portion and an upper portion; a removeably
attachable member for securely coupling to the body; and a means
for securely attaching the member to the upper portion of the body;
wherein the removeably attachable member attached to said upper
portion of said body creates a storage compartment between the body
and the member, providing a storage enclosure for a plurality of
beverage accessories.
[0011] A beverage container lid having a storage compartment, in
accordance with the present invention, comprises a body for
substantially covering an opening of a beverage container; and a
fixed member coupled to the body; wherein the fixed member and the
body create a storage compartment substantially enclosed between
the body and the fixed member, providing a means for storage of
beverage accessories.
[0012] A beverage container lid having a storage cavity for storing
beverage accessories, in accordance with the present invention,
comprising a groove insert positioned within an upper surface of
the lid; and a panel for removeably coupling to the groove insert;
wherein the panel coupled to the groove insert creates a storage
cavity substantially enclosed between an exterior surface of the
lid and the coupled panel.
[0013] The hot beverage lid comprises an improvement in lid design
whereby the elevated portion of the lid that is opposite the
drinking hole is shaped to be used to store restaurant accessories
such as napkins or sugar packets. The storage space is enclosed by
card stock or similar material that can be preprinted with a
trademark or advertisement.
[0014] It is an objective of the present invention to assist those
drinking hot beverages by creating a convenient place to hold
beverage accessories that would otherwise have to be held by
hand.
[0015] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
valuable advertising or trademark identification on an accessible
object where such communication was not possible before.
[0016] Finally, it is yet another objective of the present
invention to provide additional uses to hot beverage lids without
sacrificing the quality, ease of use, number of uses, or cost of
lids already in place.
[0017] These and other advantages and features of the present
invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the
present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the
art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to
scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding
of these various elements and embodiments of the invention.
Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well
understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to
provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the
invention.
[0019] FIG. 1(a) is a front perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, depicting the lid apparatus
with a removable member positioned within a groove insert on the
top portion of the lid apparatus that creates a cavity space for
containing within it a plurality of beverage related
accessories.
[0020] FIG. 1(b) is another front perspective view of the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, but depicting each of its
components separately in an exploded view.
[0021] FIG. 1(c) is a rear perspective view of the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention depicting the groove insert
with the removable member inserted therein.
[0022] FIG. 1(d) is a rear perspective view of the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention depicting the groove insert
without the removable member inserted therein.
[0023] FIG. 2(a) is a side perspective view of an alternate
embodiment depicting in part a hinge mechanism for attaching the
removable member onto the upper portion of the lid apparatus, and
where the removable member is in an open position.
[0024] FIG. 2(b) is another side perspective view of the alternate
embodiment, but depicting the removable member in a closed
position.
[0025] FIG. 3(a) is a side perspective view of yet another
alternate embodiment depicting in part a pivotal mechanism for
attaching the removable member onto the top portion of the lid
apparatus.
[0026] FIG. 3(b) is another side perspective view of this alternate
embodiment depicting the removable member pivoted to one side of
the lid apparatus.
[0027] FIG. 4(a) is a front perspective view of a yet another
alternate embodiment of the present invention depicting the lid
apparatus with a permanent cover creating a cavity space in lieu of
a removable member attached within a groove insert.
[0028] FIG. 4(b) is a rear perspective view of the alternate
embodiment showing the cavity space created by the permanent cover
on the top portion of the lid apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] In the following discussion that addresses a number of
embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is
made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, where
depictions are made, by way of illustration, of specific
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may
be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 1(a) is a front perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, depicting a lid apparatus with
a removable member positioned within a groove insert on the top
portion of the lid apparatus that creates a cavity space for
containing within it a plurality of beverage related
accessories.
[0031] In the exemplary embodiment, lid apparatus 100 is generally
circular in shape and used for covering a beverage container, such
as a disposable cup. As is generally known, most, if not all,
coffee shops, restaurants, and other types of food establishments
use disposable containers to serve a variety of hot beverages. One
of the more popular hot beverages that are served to consumers is
coffee. Typically, a consumer ordering a hot coffee beverage to-go
will attach upon the top of the beverage container a lid, usually
made of plastic, in order to keep the beverage hot for a longer
period of time and to prevent spillage.
[0032] As indicated above, the lid apparatus 100 of the present
invention has a groove insert 101 for placement of a removable
member 102. Groove insert 101 is located on the opposite side of
lid apparatus 100 from where mouthpiece 103 is located. Lid
apparatus 100 may also have one or more small-sized openings for
purposes of air pressure equalization when lid apparatus 100 is
attached to a beverage container with liquid inside it. Further,
groove insert 101 is positioned within the inner peripheral
circumferential and center areas of the upper portion 104 of lid
apparatus 100. The lower portion 105 of lid apparatus 100 refers to
that part of the lid that is commonly known in the industry to
attach securely onto a corresponding beverage container. Mouthpiece
103 is an opening on upper portion 104 that is commonly known in
the art to be for a user to ingest or drink a beverage from a
beverage container attached to a lid.
[0033] FIG. 1(b) is another front perspective view of the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, but depicting each of its
components separately in an exploded view. In this view, the full
shape of removable member 102 is displayed. Also shown is a napkin
107 that may be used in connection with the present invention and
that is discussed in further detail below. In the exemplary
embodiment, removable member 102 contains at least three groove
sides, 102a, 102b and 102c, that correspond in whole to the overall
shape of groove insert 101 (an explanation of the shape of groove
insert 101 in the exemplary embodiment can be found below in the
discussions relating to FIG. 1(d)). The remaining three sides of
removable member 102 have two straights side and one curved side.
However, the number of total sides of removable member 102 depicted
here should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the
invention. There may be one or more sides to removable member 102
depending on its shape. Further, the overall shape of removable
member 102 may vary depending on the shape of groove insert 101,
and is not limited to one particular shape for purposes of the
present invention.
[0034] In the exemplary embodiment, removable member 102 is made of
cardstock paper, which is thick enough to withstand at least
minimal amounts of forces by indentations, folding or warping as a
result of holding in place the beverage accessories inserted
between removable member 102 and upper portion 104. While cardstock
may used to create removable member 102, this is not intended to
limit the scope of the present invention. Other types of paper may
be used, or even other types of materials, such as plastic, sturdy
fabrics or other comparable material that serves the overall
purposes of removable member 102.
[0035] Further, in the exemplary embodiment, removable member 102
may be used as a platform for advertising messages, brand name or
trademark displays or other information directed to consumers or
related to the beverage and its contents. This enables the beverage
provider or any other person or company to communicate its desired
message to consumers in a readily viewable and distinct visible
manner. For example, a mortgage company may contract or otherwise
arrange with the provider of lids to display a message regarding
refinancing, with information about who to contact in order to do
so. As another example, information about a soup kitchen may be
displayed on the removable member 102 with a specified proceed that
is given to the soup kitchen with each purchase of a beverage and
accompanying lid. While the exemplary embodiment may contain these
various types of information relating to advertising and brand name
recognition, this should not be interpreted as limiting the type of
information that may be displayed on removable member 102.
[0036] FIG. 1(c) is a rear perspective view of the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention depicting the groove insert 101
with the removable member 102 inserted therein. In this view, the
cavity space, or storage enclosure 106, formed between removable
member 102 and upper portion 104 can be seen and is used for
containing one or more beverage related accessories. In the
exemplary embodiment, storage enclosure 106 contains at least a
napkin 107 (also shown in FIG. 1(b)). However, a variety of items
may be situated within storage enclosure 106, such as sugar
packets, stirrers, powdered creamer, and other beverage related
accessories. The use of storage enclosure 106 allows a user or
consumer to have the needed or desired beverage related condiments
and accessories readily at hand with their beverage. This is
especially important for consumers who buy the beverage to-go or in
a drive-thru as it saves them the time and hassle of requesting the
various beverage condiments and accessories.
[0037] FIG. 1(d) is a rear perspective view of the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention depicting groove insert 101
without removable member 102 inserted therein. In this view, the
general shape of groove insert 101 can be seen. In the exemplary
embodiment, groove insert 101 comprises side inserts positioned on
opposite sides, side inserts 101a and 101b, of the inner upper
circumference of lid apparatus 100 and cover approximately half of
the total upper circumference of upper portion 104. Sides 101a and
101b of groove insert 101 are interconnected by a middle insert
101c. Groove insert 101 may also comprise middle insert 101c, which
is located across the top of and in close proximity to the diameter
of upper portion 104.
[0038] Side inserts 101a and 101b and middle insert 101c are
indented within the inner upper circumference of upper portion 104
enough so that removable member 102 is able to securely snap into
place and does not readily fall off lid apparatus 100. As discussed
above with respect to FIG. 1(b), removable member 102 may have one
or more sides for fitting within groove insert 101. Accordingly,
groove insert 101 may have a different number of total inserts
depending on the shape of removable member 102, and not necessarily
have side inserts 101a and 101b and middle insert 101c in each
embodiment of the present invention. For example, if removable
member 102 is semi-circular in shape, groove insert 101 would
comprise a half-circle insert shape in order to accommodate the
shape of removable member 102.
[0039] FIG. 2(a) is a side perspective view of an alternate
embodiment depicting in part a hinge mechanism 201 for attaching a
removable member 202 onto an upper portion 204 of a lid apparatus
200, and where the removable member 202 is in an open position. In
this embodiment, hinge mechanism 201 comprises two small-sized
hinges, 201a and 201b, that are positioned opposite mouthpiece 205
upon upper portion 204 in two circular spaces. In this embodiment
employing the use of hinge mechanism 201, hinges 201a and 201b may
be circular in size and also attach onto removable member 202
through circular spaces. Hinges 201a and 201b may be made of any
material resistant to hot or cold beverages as well as the
propensity for rusting. Hinges 201a and 201b are attached to upper
portion 204 and removable member 102 in such as way as to provide a
sturdy and firm hold on removable member 202. This enables
removable member 202 to be opened as is seen here in FIG. 2(a), but
also allows removable member 202 to be closed (depicted in FIG.
2(b)) so that the beverage related condiments and accessories are
firmly held in place.
[0040] FIG. 2(b) is another side perspective view of the alternate
embodiment, but depicting removable member 202 in a closed
position. As noted, hinges 201a and 201b allow for removable member
202 to be maintained in a closed position for purposes of holding
the beverage related accessories. While the present embodiment
depicts the use of two hinges, 201a and 201b, this should not be
interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention as to the
number, type, material or location of the hinges used to maintain
removable member 202 in place.
[0041] FIG. 3(a) is a side perspective view of yet another
alternate embodiment depicting in part a pivotal mechanism for
attaching removable member 302 onto upper portion 304 of the lid
apparatus 300. In this embodiment, pivotal member 301 is located on
the center of the end portion of removable member 302 attached
opposite mouthpiece 303. Pivotal member 301 can be made of metal or
plastic material and attaches securely within a circular space (not
shown) on removable member 302 in order to keep it firmly in place.
This is important given that removable member 302 must keep the
beverage related condiments and accessories securely in place when
in a closed position.
[0042] In this embodiment, pivotal member 301 is a small-sized
metal snap-piece that encloses the circular space (not shown)
within removable member 302 and the segment on upper portion 304
that removable member 302 is attached to. However, the use of a
metal snap-piece should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of
the present invention as the equivalent variations that may be used
as a pivotal mechanism.
[0043] FIG. 3(b) is another side perspective view of this alternate
embodiment depicting removable member 302 pivoted to one side of
lid apparatus 300. As indicated above, pivotal member 301 allows
removable member 302 to be rotated towards to the left or right
angled-directions for purposes such as removing the beverage
related contents contained underneath removable member 302.
[0044] FIG. 4(a) is a front perspective view of a yet another
alternate embodiment of the present invention depicting lid
apparatus 400 with a permanent cover 401 creating a cavity space in
lieu of removable member attached within a groove insert (as
previously explained in further detail in FIGS. 1(a)-(d)). In this
embodiment, permanent cover 401 is made of the same material as lid
apparatus 400, namely plastic, and which is the most common, if not
only, material used to make lids for disposable beverage cups.
However, if lid apparatus 400 is made from a different material,
such as a mixture of plastic and other recycled materials,
permanent cover 401 may also be made of that same material. In
addition, permanent cover 401 may be made of a different material
than that of the rest of lid apparatus 400 without deviating from
the scope of the present invention.
[0045] This embodiment of lid apparatus 400 containing permanent
cover 401 provides for an alternate way of containing the various
beverage accessories. A user cannot readily remove permanent cover
401 as is an option with removable member in the other embodiments
(See discussions related to removable member in FIGS. 1-3).
Permanent cover 401 covers a substantial area atop upper rim 402 of
upper portion 403 of lid apparatus 400. For purposes of
practicality, permanent cover 401 may cover much of the area
between the opposite sides of upper rim 402 while leaving enough
room on upper portion 403 for mouthpiece 404. The covering of the
area between the opposite sides of upper rim 402 by permanent cover
401 creates storage enclosure 405. As previously explained, storage
enclosure 405 (not shown in this view) contains beverage related
condiments and accessories. Additionally, as with the previous
embodiments, permanent cover 401 may contain advertisement,
promotional, or other types of information pre-printed on it.
[0046] FIG. 4(b) is a rear perspective view of the alternate
embodiment showing storage enclosure 405 created by the permanent
cover 401 on upper rim 402 of upper portion 403 of the lid
apparatus 400. The outward arc-like shape depicted as the outer end
portion of permanent cover 401 in FIGS. 4(a)-(b) is for purposes of
illustration in this particular embodiment. However, the outer end
portion of permanent cover 401 can be formed of other shapes as
well, such as a semi-circle or a series of multiple arcs, without
deviating from the scope of the present invention.
[0047] A lid apparatus for a disposable beverage container has been
described. The foregoing description of the various exemplary
embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of
illustration and disclosure. It is not intended to be exhaustive or
to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be
limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the
equivalents to the claims.
* * * * *