U.S. patent application number 15/049081 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-24 for drink lid tactile spout locator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dak Brandon Steiert. Invention is credited to Dak Brandon Steiert.
Application Number | 20170238740 15/049081 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59631331 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170238740 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steiert; Dak Brandon |
August 24, 2017 |
DRINK LID TACTILE SPOUT LOCATOR
Abstract
The system of the preferred embodiments is a drink container
lid, including: at least one of a permanent and a removable
interface designed to attach the drink container lid to a drink
container; a bulkhead attached to the at least one of a permanent
and removable interface, and designed to keep liquid in the drink
container; an opening in the top of the bulkhead adapted to allow
fluid to flow into a user's mouth; at least one of a protrusion, a
bump, a groove, an indentation, and a rough textured area on a
generally vertical surface of the drink container lid, adjacent to
the opening and aligned with the positioning of the opening, where
the at least one of a protrusion, a bump, a groove, an indentation,
and a rough textured area is capable of creating a tactile
sensation on a user's lip. The drink container lid is preferably
designed to allow a user to locate the opening in the drink
container lid using their sense of feel with their bottom lip,
allowing a user to drink liquid from a drink container with a lid
more easily and potentially without having to look at the drink
container, while at the same time allowing the user to properly
align the opening in the drink container lid with their mouth to
avoid spilling any of the contents of the container. The drink
container lid may, however, be used for any suitable purpose.
Inventors: |
Steiert; Dak Brandon;
(Edwards, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Steiert; Dak Brandon |
Edwards |
CO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59631331 |
Appl. No.: |
15/049081 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2266 20130101;
B65D 43/0231 20130101; B65D 2543/00046 20130101; B65D 2543/00527
20130101; B65D 43/0212 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D
2543/00092 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22; B65D 43/02 20060101 B65D043/02 |
Claims
1) A drink container lid comprising: at least one of a permanent
and a removable interface adapted to attach the drink container lid
to a drink container; a bulkhead attached to the at least one of a
permanent and removable interface and adapted to keep liquid in the
drink container; an opening in the top of the bulkhead adapted to
allow fluid to flow into a user's mouth; at least one of a
protrusion, a bump, a groove, an indentation, and a rough textured
area on a generally vertical surface of the drink container lid
adjacent to the opening and aligned with the positioning of the
opening, wherein the at least one of a protrusion, a bump, a
groove, an indentation, and a rough textured area is capable of
creating a tactile sensation on a user's lip.
2) The drink container lid of claim 1, wherein the tactile
sensation created by the at least one of a protrusion, a bump, an
indent, and a rough textured area allows a user to locate the
opening in the drink container lid without looking at the lid.
3) The drink container lid of claim 1, wherein a plastic molding
process is used to manufacture the at least one of a protrusion, a
bump, an indent, and a rough textured area.
4) The drink container lid of claim 2, wherein a plastic molding
process is used to manufacture the at least one of a protrusion, a
bump, an indent, and a rough textured area.
5) The drink container lid of claim 1, wherein a stamping process
is used to manufacture the at least one of a protrusion, a bump, an
indent, and a rough textured area.
6) The drink container lid of claim 2, wherein a stamping process
is used to manufacture the at least one of a protrusion, a bump, an
indent, and a rough textured area.
7) The drink container lid of claim 1, wherein the drink container
lid comprises a polymer material and is adapted to fit onto a
disposable drink cup.
8) The drink container lid of claim 1, wherein the drink container
is a non-disposable mug and the drink container lid is a component
of a drinking mug system.
9) The drink container lid of claim 2, wherein the drink container
lid comprises a polymer material and is adapted to fit onto a
disposable drink cup.
10) The drink container lid of claim 2, wherein the drink container
is a non-disposable mug and the drink container lid is a component
of a drinking mug system.
11) The drink container lid of claim 4, wherein the drink container
lid comprises a polymer material and is adapted to fit onto a
disposable drink cup.
12) The drink container lid of claim 4, wherein the drink container
is a non-disposable mug and the drink container lid is a component
of a drinking mug system.
13) The drink container lid of claim 5, wherein the drink container
lid comprises a polymer material and is adapted to fit onto a
disposable drink cup.
14) The drink container lid of claim 5, wherein the drink container
is a non-disposable mug and the drink container lid is a component
of a drinking mug system.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0001] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments.
[0002] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, shown from a three-quarter angle.
[0003] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, where two protrusions are
included.
[0004] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, where a textured area is included.
[0005] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, where another variation of a rough
textured area is included.
[0006] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, where a groove is included.
[0007] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, where the drink container is a
non-disposable mug and the drinking container lid is a part of a
drinking mug system.
[0008] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, where the drink container lid is at
least partially made of a polymer material, and is adapted to fit
onto a disposable drink cup.
[0009] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the system of the
first preferred embodiments, where an indentation is included.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] The following description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention is intended to enable someone skilled in the prior
art to make and use this invention, but is not intended to limit
the invention to these preferred embodiments.
1. First Preferred Embodiment
[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the preferred embodiments
is a drink container lid, including: at least one of a permanent
and a removable interface 2 designed to attach the drink container
lid to a drink container; a bulkhead 3 attached to the at least one
of a permanent and removable interface 2, and designed to keep
liquid in the drink container; an opening 4 in the top of the
bulkhead 3 adapted to allow fluid to flow into a user's mouth; at
least one of a protrusion 5, a bump 5, a groove 5, an indentation
5, and a rough textured area 5 on a generally vertical surface of
the drink container lid, adjacent to the opening 4 and aligned with
the positioning of the opening 4, where the at least one of a
protrusion 5, a bump 5, a groove 5, an indentation 5, and a rough
textured area 5 is capable of creating a tactile sensation on a
user's lip. The drink container lid is preferably designed to allow
a user to locate the opening 4 in the drink container lid using
their sense of feel with their bottom lip, allowing a user to drink
liquid from a drink container with a lid more easily and
potentially without having to look at the drink container, while at
the same time allowing the user to properly align the opening 4 in
the drink container lid with their mouth to avoid spilling any of
the contents of the container. The drink container lid may,
however, be used for any suitable purpose.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the drink container lid includes an
interface 2 that allows the drink container lid to attach at least
one of removably, and permanently to a drink container. In a
preferred variation, the interface 2 is adapted to friction fit to
the rim of a drink container. In another preferred variation, the
interface 2 is adapted to connected via threads to a drink
container. In another preferred variation, the interface 2 is
adapted to attach via adhesive to a drink container. There may,
however, be any suitable interface 2 design for attaching the drink
container lid to a drink container. Preferably the interface 2
creates a sealed attachment to the drink container that prevents
the leakage of fluids.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 7, in a preferred variation the drink
container lid is designed to attach to a non-disposable mug and the
drink container lid is a part of a drinking mug system. In one
variation of this variation, the drinking container is a mug that
comprises a metal outer surface and an inner surface of at least
one of metal and polymer, with at least one of an air gap and
insulating foam in between. In another variation, the drinking
container is a mug that comprises a ceramic material. In another
variation, the drinking container is a mug in the form of a
thermos. As shown in FIG. 8, the drinking container is disposable
and the drinking container lid 1 is at least partially constructed
of a polymer material. In a variation of this variation, the
drinking container lid 1 is intended to be recyclable. In a
variation of this variation, the interface 2 attaches to a rounded
lip on the drinking container with at least one of friction and a
mechanical interface 2 using the elasticity of the material the
interface 2 on the drinking lid container is made of. In a
variation of this variation, the drinking container is a paper cup,
and the drinking container lid 1 is a lid designed to attach to the
rim of the paper cup. The drinking container may, however, have any
suitable design, characteristics, and intended use. The drinking
container lid 1 may, however, have any suitable design for use with
any suitable drinking container.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the drinking container lid 1 includes at
least one opening 4 in the bulkhead 3 to allow fluid to flow
through the opening 4. This opening 4 is preferably designed to
allow a user to pour fluid from the drinking container into the
user's mouth. The bulkhead 3 is preferably the top surface of the
drinking container lid 1, and the opening 4 is preferably an
opening 4 through the top surface of the bulkhead 3. In a preferred
variation, the opening 4 preferably faces generally upward, and in
some variations upward at an angle. The bulkhead 3 is the closure
surface of the drinking container lid 1 and is attached to the
interface 2. The bulkhead 3 is designed to largely prevent fluid
from passing out of the drinking container in any location other
than through the opening 4.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1-9, at least one of a protrusion 5, bump
5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured area 5 is included
on a generally vertical surface of the drinking container lid 1
adjacent to the opening 4, and with a position aligned with the
opening 4. The opening 4 is generally near the outer circumference
of the drinking container lid 1, and the at least one of a
protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured
area 5 is generally positioned on the generally vertical side
surface of the drinking container lid 1 adjacent to the opening 4
and above the interface 2. In a preferred variation, the at least
one of a protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough
textured area 5 is capable of creating a tactile sensation that a
user can feel with their lip. In a preferred variation, the user
can utilize the tactile sensation on their lip created by the at
least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a
rough textured area 5 to align the opening 4 with their mouth. In a
preferred variation, the user utilizes the tactile sensation to
align the opening 4 with their mouth before taking a drink from the
drinking container, which prevents the user from tilting the
drinking container and allowing fluid to flow from the opening 4
while the opening 4 is not properly aligned with their mouth, which
could result in spilling the liquid from the drinking container.
The at least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove
5, and a rough textured area 5 may, however, be used for any
suitable purpose. The at least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5,
indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured area 5 is preferably
aligned so that the center of the tactile sensation created on the
user's lip aligns with the center of the opening 4. In another
preferred variation, the at least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5,
indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured area 5 is designed to
produce a sensation that aligns with the boundaries of the opening
4, enabling the user to find the boundaries of the opening 4 by way
of the tactile sensation in their lower lip. The at least one of a
protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured
area 5 may, however, have any suitable location for enabling the
user to find the location of the opening 4 with their lip. As shown
in FIG. 1, in a preferred variation the at least one of a
protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured
area 5 is a protrusion. As shown in FIG. 2 the at least one of a
protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured
area 5 is a bump. As shown in FIG. 2, in a preferred variation the
at least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5,
and a rough textured area 5 is a bump. As shown in FIG. 3, in a
preferred variation the at least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5,
indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured area 5 is at least
two protrusions. As shown in FIG. 4, in a preferred variation the
at least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5,
and a rough textured area 5 is a rough textured area made of a
patterned surface of at least one of grooves, etchings, and linear
indentations. As shown in FIG. 5, in a preferred variation the at
least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a
rough textured area 5 is a rough textured area comprising a
plurality of at least one of small protrusions and small raised
portions of material. In a variation of this variation, a
particulate material is adhered to the drinking container lid 1
using at least one of adhesive, the thermoplastic nature of the
material, and a molding process to create the rough textured area.
As shown in FIG. 6, in a preferred variation the at least one of a
protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove 5, and a rough textured
area 5 is a groove. As shown in FIG. 9, in a preferred variation
the at least one of a protrusion 5, bump 5, indentation 5, groove
5, and a rough textured area 5 is an indentation.
[0016] As a person skilled in the art is aware, users drinking from
a drinking container fitted with a drinking container lid 1 often
drink from the drinking container without looking at the container
to locate the opening 4 in the drinking container lid 1, which
often results in the user not properly aligning the opening 4 with
their mouth and spilling the liquid in the drinking container. In
some scenarios users drink beverages such as coffee from drinking
containers such as paper cups fitted with drinking container lid
1s, and spilling the liquid from the drinking container can be any
of painful, distracting, dangerous, and damaging to the user's
clothing and surroundings. Frequently users attempt to drink
beverages such as coffee from paper cups fitted with drinking
container lid is while driving an automobile, a scenario where the
user cannot safely look at the drinking container lid 1 to properly
align the opening 4 before attempting to drink their beverage,
which may result in the user spilling their beverage while drinking
which may be inconvenient and potentially dangerous. There exists a
clear and long-standing need for a way for users to align the
opening 4 of a drinking container lid 1 with their mouth without
looking at the drinking container in order to avoid these scenarios
and other similar scenarios, however despite a number of prior art
drinking lid container designs there has never been a design that
allows a user to locate the drinking container lid 1 opening 4
utilizing a tactile sensation on their lower lip created by the
surface of the drinking container lid 1 adjacent to the opening 4.
The user generally puts their lower lip onto the generally vertical
surface nearer the outside of the circumference of the drinking lid
container from the opening 4, so this is the preferable location to
adapt the drinking lid container to create a tactile sensation. The
system of the preferred embodiments may, however, be used to create
any suitable benefits for any suitable reason.
[0017] As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the
previous detailed description and from the figures and claims,
modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments
of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *