Cup Lid Clamp Assembly

Abstract

A cup lid clamp assembly inhibiting a lid from falling off of a beverage cup includes a beverage cup for containing a beverage. A lid is removably coupled to the beverage cup. The lid has a drinking aperture extending therethrough to facilitate the beverage in the beverage cup to be consumed. A clamp is positionable around the lid and the clamp frictionally engages the beverage cup to inhibit the lid from is removed from the beverage cup. In this way the lid inhibits the beverage in the beverage cup from spilling. A clasp is movably coupled to the clamp and an engagement is coupled to the clamp. The clasp engages the engagement when the clasp is positioned in a closed position to compress the clamp around the lid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0006] The disclosure and prior art relates to clamp devices and more particularly pertains to a new clamp device for inhibiting a lid from falling off of a beverage cup.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a beverage cup for containing a beverage. A lid is removably coupled to the beverage cup. The lid has a drinking aperture extending therethrough to facilitate the beverage in the beverage cup to be consumed. A clamp is positionable around the lid and the clamp frictionally engages the beverage cup to inhibit the lid from is removed from the beverage cup. In this way the lid inhibits the beverage in the beverage cup from spilling. A clasp is movably coupled to the clamp and an engagement is coupled to the clamp. The clasp engages the engagement when the clasp is positioned in a closed position to compress the clamp around the lid.

[0008] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0009] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0010] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup lid clamp assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of clamp of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a back view of a clamp of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a front view of clamp of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new clamp device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0018] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the cup lid clamp assembly 10 generally comprises a beverage cup 12 for containing a beverage. The beverage cup 12 may be an insulated beverage cup or the like for containing hot or cold beverages. A lid 14 is removably coupled to the beverage cup 12 and the lid 14 has a drinking aperture 16 extending therethrough to facilitate the beverage in the beverage cup 12 to be consumed. The lid 14 has an outer surface 18 and an upper edge 20.

[0019] A clamp 22 is provided and the clamp 22 is positionable around the lid 14. The clamp 22 frictionally engages the beverage cup 12 to inhibit the lid 14 from being removed from the beverage cup 12. In this way the lid 14 inhibits the beverage in the beverage cup 12 from spilling. The clamp 22 has a first end 24, a second end 26, a first surface 28 extending between the first end 24 and the second end 26, second surface 30 extending between the first end 24 and the second end 26, and a top edge 32. The first surface 28 is concavely arcuate between the first end 24 and the second end 26 such that the clamp 22 forms an open loop having the first end 24 being spaced from the second end 26.

[0020] A lip 34 is coupled to and extends laterally away the first surface 28 of the clamp 22 and the lip 34 is coextensive with the first surface 28. The lip 34 is aligned with the top edge 32 and the lip 34 extends over the upper edge 20 of the lid 14 when the clamp 22 is positioned around the lid 14. Moreover, the lip 34 has a pair of terminal ends 36 and a lower surface 38. The terminal ends 36 are spaced apart from each other to define a drinking space 40 in the lip 34. The drinking space 40 is aligned with the drinking aperture 16 in the lid 14 when the clamp 22 is positioned around the lid 14. In this way the drinking space 40 facilitates the beverage to be consumed when the clamp 22 is positioned around the lid 14.

[0021] A clasp 42 is movably coupled to the second surface 30 of the clamp 22 and the clasp 42 is aligned with the first end 24 of the clamp 22. The clasp 42 includes a lever 44 that is hingedly coupled to the clamp 22 and a hook 46 that is movably coupled to the clasp 42. The hook 46 extends between the first end 24 and the second end 26 of the clamp 22 when the clasp 42 positioned in a closed position. An engagement 48 is coupled to the second surface 30 of the clamp 22 and the engagement 48 is aligned with the second end 26 of the clamp 22. The hook 46 on the clasp 42 engages the engagement 48 when the clasp 42 is positioned in the closed position to compress the clamp 22 around the lid 14.

[0022] A cushion 50 is coupled to the first surface 28 of the clamp 22 and the lower surface 38 of the lip 34. The cushion 50 is comprised of a resiliently compressible material such as foam rubber or the like. Thus, the cushion 50 frictionally engages the beverage cup 12 and the upper edge 20 of the lid 14 when the clamp 22 is closed around the lid 14. In this way the cushion 50 inhibits the clamp 22 from slipping off of the beverage cup 12 and the lid 14. Additionally, the cushion 50 inhibits the beverage from leaking between the lid 14 and the beverage cup 12.

[0023] In use, the beverage cup 12 is filled with the beverage and the lid 14 is positioned on the beverage cup 12. The clamp 22 is positioned around the lid 14 and the drinking space 40 in the lip 34 is aligned with the drinking aperture 16 in the lid 14. The clamp 22 is manipulated into the closed position to compress the lid 14 around the beverage cup 12 and the lid 14. In this way the lid 14 is inhibited from falling off of the beverage container and spilling the beverage.

[0024] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0025] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A cup lid clamp assembly for retaining a lid on a cup wherein said assembly is configured to inhibit a beverage in said cup from spilling, said assembly comprising: a beverage cup being configured to contain a beverage; a lid being removably coupled to said beverage cup, said lid having a drinking aperture extending therethrough wherein said lid is configured to facilitate the beverage in said beverage cup to be consumed; a clamp being positionable around said lid, said clamp frictionally engaging said beverage cup to inhibit said lid from being removed from said beverage cup wherein said lid is configured to inhibit the beverage in said beverage cup from spilling; a clasp being movably coupled to said clamp; an engagement being coupled to said clamp, said clasp engaging said engagement when said clasp is positioned in a closed position to compress said clamp around said lid.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clamp has a first end, a second end, a first surface extending between said first end and said second end, second surface extending between said first end and said second end, and a top edge, said first surface being concavely arcuate between said first end and said second end such that said clamp forms an open loop having said first end being spaced from said second end.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a lip being coupled to said first surface of said clamp, said lip being coextensive with said first surface, said lip being aligned with said top edge, said lip extending over an upper edge of said lid when said clamp is positioned around said lid, said lip having a pair of terminal ends and a lower surface.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said terminal ends are spaced apart from each other to define a drinking space in said lip, said drinking space being aligned with said drinking aperture in said lid when said clamp is positioned around said lid wherein said drinking space is configured to facilitate the beverage to be consumed when said clamp is positioned around said lid.

5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said clasp is positioned on said second surface of said clamp, said clasp being aligned with said first end of said clamp, said clasp including a lever being hingedly coupled to said clamp and a hook being movably coupled to said clasp, said hook extending between said first end and said second end of said clamp when said clasp is positioned in a closed position.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said engagement is aligned with said second end of said clamp.

7. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a cushion being coupled to said first surface of said clamp and said lower surface of said lip, said cushion being comprised of a resiliently compressible material such that said cushion frictionally engages said beverage cup and said upper edge of said lid when said clamp is closed around said lid.

8. A cup lid clamp assembly for retaining a lid on a cup wherein said assembly is configured to inhibit a beverage in said cup from spilling, said assembly comprising: a beverage cup being configured to contain a beverage; a lid being removably coupled to said beverage cup, said lid having a drinking aperture extending therethrough wherein said lid is configured to facilitate the beverage in said beverage cup to be consumed, said lid having an outer surface and a upper edge; a clamp being positionable around said lid, said clamp frictionally engaging said beverage cup to inhibit said lid from being removed from said beverage cup wherein said lid is configured to inhibit the beverage in said beverage cup from spilling, said clamp having a first end, a second end, a first surface extending between said first end and said second end, second surface extending between said first end and said second end, and a top edge, said first surface being concavely arcuate between said first end and said second end such that said clamp forms an open loop having said first end being spaced from said second end; a lip being coupled to said first surface of said clamp, said lip being coextensive with said first surface, said lip being aligned with said top edge, said lip extending over said upper edge of said lid when said clamp is positioned around said lid, said lip having a pair of terminal ends and a lower surface, said terminal ends being spaced apart from each other to define a drinking space in said lip, said drinking space being aligned with said drinking aperture in said lid when said clamp is positioned around said lid wherein said drinking space is configured to facilitate the beverage to be consumed when said clamp is positioned around said lid; a clasp being movably coupled to said second surface of said clamp, said clasp being aligned with said first end of said clamp, said clasp including a lever being hingedly coupled to said clamp and a hook being movably coupled to said clasp, said hook extending between said first end and said second end of said clamp when said clasp positioned in a closed position; an engagement being coupled to said second surface of said clamp, said engagement being aligned with said second end of said clamp, said hook on said clasp engaging said engagement when said clasp is positioned in said closed position to compress said clamp around said lid; and a cushion being coupled to said first surface of said clamp and said lower surface of said lip, said cushion being comprised of a resiliently compressible material such that said cushion frictionally engages said beverage cup and said upper edge of said lid when said clamp is closed around said lid.

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