U.S. patent application number 13/986598 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for drink lids that visually warn a consumer when the cup's lid is ajar.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas John McGuigan, Julie Ann Smit. Invention is credited to Thomas John McGuigan, Julie Ann Smit.
Application Number | 20140339119 13/986598 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51894933 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140339119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smit; Julie Ann ; et
al. |
November 20, 2014 |
DRINK LIDS THAT VISUALLY WARN A CONSUMER WHEN THE CUP'S LID IS
AJAR
Abstract
Beverage cups and beverage lids that visibly warn a consumer
when the cup's lid is ajar. This invention is especially beneficial
for the safe consumption of scalding hot drinks such as coffee, tea
and hot chocolate where spillage can cause serious burns to the
face and body.
Inventors: |
Smit; Julie Ann; (Evanston,
IL) ; McGuigan; Thomas John; (Evanston, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Smit; Julie Ann
McGuigan; Thomas John |
Evanston
Evanston |
IL
IL |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51894933 |
Appl. No.: |
13/986598 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.1 ;
53/488 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2227 20130101;
A47G 19/2272 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.1 ;
53/488 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22; B65B 7/28 20060101 B65B007/28 |
Claims
1. The combination of a beverage cup and corresponding separate lid
that have visual means for warning a consumer when said
corresponding lid is ajar in order to prevent scalding accidents
and messy spills; additionally, providing a small opening in said
corresponding lid to drink beverage through, whereby, the consumer
is visibly aware prior to taking the first sip of beverage whether
or not said corresponding lid is ajar, visual warning means
comprising a colored or patterned portion positioned at or near the
top of said beverage cup that functions as a warning only when used
in combination with said corresponding lid, whereby, said
combination visually relays the attachment status of said
corresponding lid to the consumer.
2. The cup and lid of claim 1, wherein said visual means for
warning a consumer is by providing translucent color-coding in the
circular coupling channel on said corresponding lid.
3. The cup and lid of claim 2, wherein said cup contains a colored
rim, whereby, when said circular coupling channel is snapped over
said colored rim, a circle of uniform color will be visible to the
consumer on the top of said corresponding lid, thereby, letting the
consumer know it is safe to enjoy their beverage.
4. The cup and lid of claim 1, wherein said visual means for
warning a consumer is by providing a colored rim on said cup.
5. The cup and lid of claim 4, wherein said lid is cloudy, yet
translucent, and the rim of said cup is colored, whereby, the
colored cup rim will be fully visible to the consumer only when the
lid's circular coupling channel is securely snapped over said
colored cup rim.
6. The cup and lid of claim 1, wherein said visual means for
warning a consumer is by providing a narrow area of color under the
rim of said cup.
7. The cup and lid of claim 1, wherein said visual means for
warning a consumer is by providing a narrow area of pattern under
the rim of said cup.
8. The cup and lid of claim 1, wherein said lid is basically light
impermeable except for a narrow transparent band on a the crest
portion of the circular coupling channel which snaps over the
colored rim of said cup.
9. The process of providing beverage cups and beverage lids that
visibly warn the consumer when the cup's lid is ajar; comprising
the following steps of: a. providing a color-coded rim on a cup, b.
snapping a corresponding beverage lid over the color-coded rim on
said cup, c. providing said cup with a small opening to drink a
beverage through; d. utilizing the above steps, whereby, a consumer
will visibly see a full circle of one consistent color on the top
of said beverage lid, if said beverage lid is securely
attached.
10. The combination of a beverage container and a separate
corresponding lid, wherein said combination has a means to visibly
warn an unsuspecting consumer when the lid to said beverage
container is ajar, visual warning means comprising providing a
circular coupling channel on said lid which forms a circle of
uniform color when said lid is firmly attached to the rim of said
beverage container and said circular coupling channel forming a
circle of non-uniform color and shade when said lid is ajar,
whereby, a consumer visually knows whether the cup's lid is secure
or ajar.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] The field of the invention is for beverage cups. More
particularly, the invention relates to beverage cups and beverage
lids that visibly warn the consumer when the cup's lid is ajar.
This invention is especially beneficial for the safe consumption of
scalding hot drinks such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate where
spillage can cause serious burns to the face and body.
[0003] 2. Background
[0004] Many different cup and lid designs have been produced
throughout the years to help prevent drink spillage.
[0005] The most common spill-prevention lid, for hot beverage
consumption, is a thin plastic cap with a small opening to drink
from. This thin plastic cap is snapped over the rim of a paper cup
and people sip their hot beverage through the small opening. This
typical plastic cap is quite spill-proof, so long as the lid is
securely snapped over the rim of the cup. However, many times these
typical plastic lids appear properly snapped on the cup, when in
fact they are not.
[0006] Time and time again, you can witness customers taking a sip
of their morning coffee, at the local coffee shop, only to have the
unsecured lid leak beverage on their clothes, or worse yet, come
off and scald them.
[0007] Cold beverages don't pose a health hazard; just one of mess
and spillage. However, who wants cola or a chocolate milk shake
dripping all down the front of their work clothes?
[0008] The lids for cold drinks are typically much flimsier than
the lids for hot beverages and contain an opening for a straw.
Again, if these soft drink lids are ajar, an overly full cup of
soda or one held at a perpendicular angle, will drip out and spill
on your clothes.
[0009] Luckily, as previously stated, cold drinks pose no health
hazard to the consumer, only mess.
[0010] Many patents throughout the years have addressed the drink
spillage issue. The following are all examples U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,549,044; 3,171,580; 3,730,399; 3,868,043; 3,938,695; 4,215,793;
4,428,498; 4,619,372; 4,767,019; 5,065,880; 7,100,790 and
7,168,589.
[0011] However, none of these patents disclose a means to visually
warn an unsuspecting consumer when the cup's lid is ajar. As
previously stated, many times the lids appear securely snapped to
the rim, when in fact they are not.
[0012] The most extreme case, which made national news, concerned
an elderly woman severely burned in her lap from the lid coming off
her scalding coffee. The fast food chain, which provided the
scalding coffee with the unsecured lid, had to pay out a
substantial settlement to this woman because of her severe
burns.
[0013] Fast food restaurants and coffee shops now subsequently warn
their customers to be extremely careful by providing "CAUTION"
warnings on both their hot beverage cups and lids. Most even warn
in 3 different languages, so the scalding hazard is clearly
understood.
[0014] Fast food restaurants and coffee shops, even go one step
further, and currently serve their scalding beverages in an
insulated sleeve to prevent the customer's hand from being burnt
while holding the cup.
[0015] However, not one of these precautionary measures address the
most obvious hazard, which is a loose lid coming off and burning a
person's unprotected face and flesh at scalding temperatures.
[0016] Accordingly, a visual means to warn a consumer when the
cup's lid is ajar would prevent the customer's skin from being
jeopardized in the first place.
[0017] Applicants have designed simple color-coded drink lids and
cup rim combinations that visually warn an unsuspecting consumer
before a scalding accident or mess occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide
drinking cups with lids that visually warn the consumer when the
cup's lid is ajar.
[0019] This may be accomplished in several different ways.
[0020] One way is by providing a drink cup with a bright
green-colored rim, for example.
[0021] The corresponding drink lid would contain the typical
circular coupling channel which snaps over the cup's rim to secure
it. However, in this case, the circular coupling channel in the
drink lid would contain a translucent bright yellow hue throughout
it.
[0022] In operation, when the lid to the drink cup and the
corresponding rim of the cup are securely snapped together, a
bright green circle will be visible, on the top of the drink lid.
However, if the lid is slightly ajar, the lid portion that is
unsecured will be yellow in color instead of green because the
surfaces are not in direct contact with each other.
[0023] In other words, if the consumer sees any yellow in the
circle on the drink lid, it is a "warning" that the lid is not
completely attached and to secure it. If the consumer sees an fully
green circle on the drink lid, this means it is safe to drink from
the cup because the lid is securely attached.
[0024] Another variation, for a visual warning to avoid drink
spillage is by providing color only to the rim of the drinking cup,
a bold red, for example.
[0025] In this embodiment, the corresponding lid's coupling channel
would be translucent. Accordingly, when the lid's circular coupling
channel is securely snapped over the bold red rim of the cup, a red
circle will be visible on the top of the drink lid. However, if the
coupling channel is slightly ajar, the unsecured area will show as
whitish or light pink because the opaqueness obscures the red rim
unless it is in direct contact with it.
[0026] Again, when the lid is securely attached, it will be visible
to the consumer as a red circle on the top of the drink lid.
[0027] Still another variation for a visual warning is a crosshatch
band approximately 4 centimeters wide and located just under the
rim of the beverage cup. This crosshatch band will be visible only
when the lid is removed or ajar. Otherwise, the crosshatch pattern
is completely covered by the lip of the beverage lid.
[0028] Still other variations for the inventive instrument will be
disclosed in the following application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TILE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment for a color-coded cup
and lid design;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a color-coded lid snapped over a
color-coded beverage cup rim;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a variation for a cup design using a color-coded
rim and a translucent coupling channel;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows the cup of FIG. 3 with the lid slightly
ajar;
[0033] FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment for a cup using a
crosshatch warning band just under the rim of the cup;
[0034] FIG. 6 shows the cup of FIG. 5 with the lid slightly
ajar;
[0035] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment which visually warns a
consumer from both the top and side of the cup when the lid is
ajar; and
[0036] FIG. 8 shows an alternate lid design which provides a narrow
transparent band to view a colored cup rim through.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] In greater detail FIG. 1 shows a cup 10 and drink lid 12.
Cup 10 contains a rim 14 which may be color-coded a bright green,
for example.
[0038] The corresponding drink lid 12 contains a translucent
coupling channel 16 which snaps over and secures drink lid 12 to
cup rim 14. Translucent coupling channel 16 contains a bright
translucent yellow band or hue throughout it.
[0039] In operation, when drink lid 12 and cup rim 14 are securely
snapped together, a bright green circle will be visible, on the top
of the drink lid 12 letting the consumer know it is alright to "go"
ahead and enjoy the beverage. However, if the drink lid 12 is
slightly ajar, the unsecured lid portion will be yellow in color
instead of green because the two surfaces are not in direct contact
with each other. In other words, the translucent yellow hue will
only turn green if it is securely snapped over the green cup rim
14.
[0040] Accordingly, any yellow in the circle will "warn" the
consumer to secure the drink lid before drinking from the cup.
[0041] A small opening 17 is provided in drink lid 12 to sip a hot
beverage through.
[0042] FIG. 2 schematically shows the lid's coupling channel 16 and
cup rim 14 securely snapped together to form the visible green
circle 18 on the top of drink lid 12.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a different variation for a visual means to
warn the consumer prior to drink spillage.
[0044] In greater detail, cup 20 contains a bold red rim 24.
[0045] Corresponding drink lid 26 contains a circular coupling
channel 28 which is cloudy, yet translucent. This translucent
property allows the bold red color to show through, at almost full
strength, only when the two surfaces are properly mated
together.
[0046] Accordingly, when drink lid 26 is securely snapped over the
bold red cup rim 24, a bold red circle will be visible on the top
of the drink lid 26. However, if the drink lid 26 is slightly ajar,
the unsecured area will show as whitish or a light pink color
because the opaqueness obscures the red colored rim when the two
surfaces are separated.
[0047] Again, when the lid is securely attached, it will be visible
to the consumer as a bold red circle on the top of the drink lid
26.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a top view showing drink lid 26 slightly ajar from
cup rim 24.
[0049] Here area 30 is designated as light pink because it is not
properly snapped to the bold red rim 24. Cross-hatched area 32
designates the bold red color because this portion of drink lid 26
is properly snapped over cup rim 24.
[0050] FIG. 5 is still another variation for a visual warning to
avoid drink spillage.
[0051] In greater detail, cup 40 contains a rim 42 which has a
crosshatch band 44 located just under the rim 42. Crosshatch band
44 is approximately 4 centimeters wide so that crosshatch band 44
will be visible only when the cup lid 46 is removed or ajar.
Otherwise the crosshatch band 44 is completely covered by the lip
47 of cup lid 46.
[0052] FIG. 6 shows the cup 40 of FIG. 5 with cup lid 46 partially
unsecured exposing crosshatch band 44. Accordingly, the consumer is
visually warned to attach the lid more securely.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows a cup 50 which visually warns a consumer from
both the top and side of the cup when the lid is ajar.
[0054] In greater detail, cup 50 contains a bold-colored rim 54
and, additionally, a side warning band 55 directly under rim 54.
Side warning band 55 is approximately 4 centimeters wide so the
only time it will be visible to the consumer is when the lid is
removed or ajar. Otherwise, side warning band 55 is completely
covered by the lip of drink lid 56. Side warning band 55 may be any
bold solid color or pattern or design.
[0055] The corresponding drink lid 56 may be completely translucent
and, once again, contains a circular coupling channel 58 which
snaps over bold colored rim 54.
[0056] Accordingly, when drink lid 56 is securely snapped over the
bold colored rim 54, a bold circle will be visible on the top of
the drink lid 56 and the side warning band 55 will not be visible.
However, if drink lid 56 is slightly ajar, the unsecured area will
show as a whitish color in circular coupling channel 58 and a
portion of the side warning band 55 will be exposed.
[0057] Accordingly, the consumer is visually warned from both the
top and side to attach the lid more securely before enjoying the
beverage.
[0058] FIG. 8 shows an alternate lid design.
[0059] In greater detail, drink lid 60, once again, contains a
circular coupling channel 62 which snaps over a colored rim 70 on a
cup 72. Drink lid 60 may be a solid color so that light cannot
easily penetrate, white for example.
[0060] The crest of circular coupling channel 62 contains a narrow
transparent band 64 which completely encircles coupling channel 62.
Narrow transparent band 64 may be approximately 2 centimeters wide
which doesn't allow any real visibility into it. Consequently, the
only time a consumer will see colored rim 70 through transparent
band 64 is when the circular coupling channel 62 is firmly snapped
over and in direct contact with colored rim 70.
[0061] In operation, when a consumer sees a bold green colored
circle, for example, on the top of the white drink lid 60, they
know it is safe to enjoy their beverage without spillage.
[0062] Economically, this would be a very cost efficient invention
to produce, but more importantly, it will prevent scalding
accidents.
[0063] Those skilled in the art will readily perceive other changes
and modifications which may be made in the inventive cups and lids
and perceive new and different uses for the inventive
structures.
[0064] For example, components of the disclosed cups and lids maybe
interchanged with each other and substituted for each other without
departing from this invention. Also, all colors, combinations of
colors and hues, cup patterns, bands and designs could be changed
and interchanged without departing from the scope of this
invention.
[0065] Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed broadly
enough to cover all equivalent structures falling within the scope
and spirit of this invention.
* * * * *