U.S. patent application number 16/546263 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-20 for lid.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lollicup USA, Inc.. Invention is credited to Chia-Chen Hsu, Yu Ting Lee.
Application Number | 20200055640 16/546263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69524490 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200055640 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Yu Ting ; et
al. |
February 20, 2020 |
LID
Abstract
Lids for cups. In preferred embodiments, lids which are
installable on cups which provide hybrid functionalities. In still
more preferred embodiments, hybrid drinking cup lids for
installation on a cup which are structurally configured to include
a drink through portion and a straw receiving portion; the drink
through portion and the straw receiving portion being alternately
useable for optionally drinking without a straw or for optionally
drinking with a straw. In the most preferred embodiments the straw
receiving portion is configured and located to reduce mechanical
wear on inserted straws, such as paper straws, during use.
Inventors: |
Lee; Yu Ting; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; Hsu; Chia-Chen; (New Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lollicup USA, Inc. |
Chino |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
69524490 |
Appl. No.: |
16/546263 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62765211 |
Aug 20, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00092
20130101; B65D 2543/00527 20130101; A47G 19/2272 20130101; B65D
43/0212 20130101; B65D 2543/00027 20130101; B65D 2543/00537
20130101; B65D 2543/00601 20130101; B65D 2543/00046 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/02 20060101
B65D043/02; A47G 19/22 20060101 A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. A lid comprising: an annular lower cup lid engaging portion
comprising a circumferential skirt including a first portion
comprising an angled annular wall angled at a selected angle to
engage with a lip of a cup and to guide said lid to a position
substantially centered on a cup to which said lid will be installed
and a second portion angled in a second direction at a second
angle, the intersection of the first portion and the second portion
being plastically deformable such that the intersection of angles
deforms when pressed against a cup lip and snaps over said cup lip
to retain said lid on said cup lip to accomplish fixation of said
lid to the cup; a cup lip retaining portion extending around the
circumference of said lid; an upwardly extending raised annular lid
portion, located inboard of said cup lip retaining portion, having
a first portion having a first height and having a second portion
having a second height which is raised relative to said first
height of said first portion; said second portion configured to
receive a lower lip of a user, the second portion having a
substantially smooth surface to obtain a liquid tight seal between
a lower lip of a user and the second portion; a planar top portion
located inboard of said upwardly extending raised annular lid
portion; a tab having two non-parallel sides, said configuration of
said two non-parallel sides of said tab resulting in said tab
having a wide end and a narrow end, and said tab having a third
side located proximal said second raised annular lid portion, said
two non-parallel sides and said third side of said tab each being
disconnectably affixed to said planar top portion such that said
third end and said two non-parallel sides may be disconnected from
said planar top portion such that said tab can be bent in a
direction away from said second raised annular lid portion to
expose a tab drink opening; said tab further including a male
protrusion; said planar top portion having a female receptacle
portion; said tab being securable in an open position by press
fitting said male protrusion into said female receptacle portion; a
cross-cut portion in line with and located generally opposite of
said tab on said planar top portion, said cross-cut portion being
comprised of a first linear cut which goes partially but not
entirely through said planar top portion in at least one region of
said linear cut; a second linear cut which transects the first
linear cut at an intersection point and which is oriented
approximately perpendicular thereto; the intersection point of said
cross-cut portion being located substantially spaced from a
centerline of said lid and also located at a selected distance D
inboard of said cup lip retaining portion; said cross-cut portion
being puncturable by a straw to form a straw receptacle for use to
drink liquid using a straw and, in the alternative, puncturable to
serve as a vent hole to allow air to escape during drinking through
said tab drink opening to improve drinking flow; and said selected
distance D being so selected such that when a straw is installed in
said cross-cut portion of said lid, and when said lid is installed
on a cup, said cross-cut portion of said lid locates a lower end of
said straw proximal a side wall of said cup thereby restricting
movement of said straw, in at least one direction, when inserted in
said cross-cut portion of said lid, thereby reducing mechanical
wear on said straw.
2. A lid according to claim 1 wherein said intersection point of
said cross-cut portion is located outboard of a midpoint between
said centerline of said lid and said cup lip retaining portion.
3. A lid according to claim 1 wherein said distance D is a value
less than 50 percent of the distance from said cup lip retaining
portion to said centerline of said lid.
4. A lid according to claim 1 wherein said distance D is a value
approximately 45 percent, or less, than the distance from said cup
lip retaining portion to said centerline of said lid.
5. A lid according to claim 1 wherein said distance D is a value
approximately 40 percent, or less, than the distance from said cup
lip retaining portion to said centerline of said lid.
6. A lid according to claim 1 wherein said distance D is a value
approximately 1/3rd, or less, than the distance from said cup lip
retaining portion to said centerline of said lid.
7. A lid according to claim 1 wherein said distance D is a value
selected from between approximately 6-25 millimeters.
8. A lid according to claim 1, combined with a beverage cup and
paper straw, wherein said lid is installed on said cup, and wherein
said paper straw is inserted in said straw receptacle formed by
puncturing said cross-cut portion of said lid.
9. A method of using the lid, paper straw, and beverage cup
combination according to claim 8, wherein when said paper straw is
used by a human user to drink a beverage carried by said beverage
cup, dynamic mechanical wear on said paper straw is reduced,
improving longevity of said paper straw.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/765,211, filed on Aug. 20, 2018, and also
entitled LID. The entirety of such application is hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates, in at least one embodiment, to lids
for cups. In preferred embodiments, this invention relates to lids
which are installable on cups which provide hybrid or improved
functionalities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The use of disposable lids on disposable cups has been
ubiquitous for decades. Such lids, in the case of cold cup lids,
have heretofore typically included straw apertures for the
insertion of a plastic straw so that a beverage can be accessed
from the cup using the straw, for sake of drinking enjoyment and
convenience. However, in recent times the widespread use of
disposable straws--particularly those made of plastic--has become
an environmental concern. This environmental concern is heightened
because cold cup lids, and the cups they are installed on, are
often also disposable. Therefore, the use of disposable straws
collectively with disposable cups and lids, has been acknowledged
to have a negative impact on the environment, particularly when the
articles are not disposed of properly by the end user.
[0004] Addressing these concerns, in very recent times, straw
manufacturers have begun to manufacture straws out of paper
products, instead of the plastic type variants conventionally used.
Although such paper straw products are more environmentally
friendly, they present their own problems. For example, paper
straws are significantly less durable than plastic straws (which
are nearly indestructible) whereas the typical paper straw, when
used in a conventional cold cup lid, has a useable lifespan of only
approximately twenty minutes. This is because conventional cold cup
lids typically locate straw apertures at or near the center of the
lid. Located near the lid center, significant back and forth
movement of the lower (and/or upper) portion of an installed straw
is mechanically permitted. Indeed, it is essential to the use of
the lid/straw combination to ergonomically position the human
user's head, relative to the beverage in the cup, for efficient
drinking. This back and forth movement--in turn--results in high
levels of mechanical wear on the straw, as the (typically sharp)
edges of the aperture of the lid exert dynamic wearing forces on
the outer straw surfaces.
[0005] Furthermore, although so-called drink-through type lids
which allow a user to drink through an aperture in the lid, have
been known in the art, as have been lids which include straw
apertures, there exists a need or desire in the art for lids which
provide both functionalities, and/or provide both functionalities
combined with improved additional lid performances. Including both
a drink-through function and straw receptacle function in one lid
configuration, for example, reduces the amount of inventory that a
lid manufacturer or re-seller must keep on hand to meet different
consumer needs.
[0006] It is, in certain embodiments, a purpose of the herein
described inventions to address one or more of the above drawbacks
or needs in the art. It is also a purpose of the herein described
inventions to address other drawbacks and/or other desires for
improvements in the art, whether or not currently known, which will
become more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the present
disclosure.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Generally speaking, one or more of the inventions described
herein provide lids which have configurations or functions which
have been heretofore unknown in the art. One such lid embodiment is
a dual-use lid configured to provide the hybrid functionalities of
permitting strawless use, while also permitting the use of a straw
when desired. In at least one embodiment of such invention, a lid
is provided with a drink-through aperture and also with a straw
receptacle so that the lid can be used in either drink-through or
straw-mode as desired.
[0008] In other embodiments of the lids described herein, lids are
provided which are designed to improve or increase paper straw
performance and/or longevity. In at least one embodiment of such
invention, a straw aperture is located spaced from the center-point
(or centerline) of the lid. In more preferred embodiments, the
straw aperture is located spaced proximal to the circumferential
perimeter of the lid. In such embodiments, when a straw is inserted
in the specially located straw aperture (with the lid installed on
a cup), the lower-end of the straw is positioned proximal the side
wall of the cup. This near-wall positioning utilizes the cup wall
itself to restrict movement of the straw within the straw aperture.
This restricted movement, in turn, reduces mechanical abrasion on
an inserted straw which promotes improved straw longevity. This
straw install location also places the lower end of straw--which is
used for beverage intake--in the corner of the cup bottom where
liquid beverage collects when the cup is tilted for drinking.
[0009] In at least one embodiment, there is provided: a hybrid
drinking cup lid for installation on a cup which is structurally
configured to include a drink through portion and a straw receiving
portion; the drink through portion and the straw receiving portion
being alternately useable for optionally drinking without a straw
or for optionally drinking with a straw.
[0010] In at least one alternative embodiment, there is provided: a
lid comprising: an annular lower cup lid engaging portion
comprising a circumferential skirt including a first portion
comprising an angled annular wall angled at a selected angle to
engage with a lip of a cup and to guide the lid to a position
substantially centered on a cup to which the lid will be installed
and a second portion angled in a second direction at a second
angle, the intersection of the first portion and the second portion
being plastically (or otherwise) deformable such that the
intersection of angles deforms when pressed against a cup lip and
snaps over the cup lip to retain the lid on the cup lip to
accomplish fixation of the lid to the cup; and an upwardly
extending raised annular lid portion having a first portion having
a first height and having a second portion having a second height
which is raised relative to the first height of the first portion;
the second portion configured to receive a lower lip of a user, the
second portion having a substantially smooth surface to obtain a
liquid tight seal between a lower lip of a user and the second
portion; a planar top portion located inboard of the upwardly
extending raised annular lid portion; a tab having a wide end and a
narrow end, the tab having two non-parallel sides being
disconnectably affixed to the planar top portion such that the wide
end and the non-parallel sides may be disconnected from the planar
top portion such that the tab can be bent backwards to expose a
drink opening; the tab having a male protrusion; the planar top
portion having a female receptacle portion; the tab being bendable
backwards and securable in an open position to expose a drink
opening by press fitting the male protrusion into the female
receptacle portion; a cross-cut portion in line with and located
generally opposite of the tab on the planar top portion, the cross
cut portion being comprised of a first linear cut which goes
partially but not entirely through the planar top portion in at
least one region of the linear cut; a second linear cut which
transects the first linear cut at an intersection point and which
is oriented approximately perpendicular thereto; the intersection
point being located substantially spaced from the centerline of the
lid and inboard of the raised annular portion by a distance
sufficient to restrict movement of an inserted straw; the cross cut
being alternately puncturable by a straw for use to drink liquid
using a straw or, in the alternative, puncturable to serve as a
vent hole to allow air to escape during drinking to improve
drinking flow.
[0011] In another embodiment, there is provided: a lid comprising:
an annular lower cup lid engaging portion comprising a
circumferential skirt including a first portion comprising an
angled annular wall angled at a selected angle to engage with a lip
of a cup and to guide the lid to a position substantially centered
on a cup to which the lid will be installed and a second portion
angled in a second direction at a second angle, the intersection of
the first portion and the second portion being plastically
deformable such that the intersection of angles deforms when
pressed against a cup lip and snaps over the cup lip to retain the
lid on the cup lip to accomplish fixation of the lid to the cup; a
cup lip retaining portion extending around the circumference of the
lid; an upwardly extending raised annular lid portion, located
inboard of the cup lip retaining portion, having a first portion
having a first height and having a second portion having a second
height which is raised relative to the first height of the first
portion; the second portion configured to receive a lower lip of a
user, the second portion having a substantially smooth surface to
obtain a liquid tight seal between a lower lip of a user and the
second portion; a planar top portion located inboard of the
upwardly extending raised annular lid portion; a tab having two
non-parallel sides, the configuration of the two non-parallel sides
of the tab resulting in the tab having a wide end and a narrow end,
and the tab having a third side located proximal the second raised
annular lid portion, the two non-parallel sides and the third side
of the tab each being disconnectably affixed to the planar top
portion such that the third end and the two non-parallel sides may
be disconnected from the planar top portion such that the tab can
be bent in a direction away from the second raised annular lid
portion to expose a tab drink opening; the tab further including a
male protrusion; the planar top portion having a female receptacle
portion; the tab being securable in an open position by press
fitting the male protrusion into the female receptacle portion; a
cross-cut portion in line with and located generally opposite of
the tab on the planar top portion, the cross-cut portion being
comprised of a first linear cut which goes partially but not
entirely through the planar top portion in at least one region of
the linear cut; a second linear cut which transects the first
linear cut at an intersection point and which is oriented
approximately perpendicular thereto; the intersection point of the
cross-cut portion being located substantially spaced from a
centerline of the lid and also located at a selected distance D
inboard of the cup lip retaining portion; the cross-cut portion
being puncturable by a straw for use to drink liquid using a straw
and, in the alternative, puncturable to serve as a vent hole to
allow air to escape during drinking through the tab drink opening
to improve drinking flow; and the selected distance D being so
selected such that when a straw is installed in the cross-cut
portion of the lid, and when the lid is installed on a cup, the
cross-cut portion of the lid locates a lower end of the straw
proximal a side wall of the cup thereby restricting movement of the
straw, in at least one direction, when inserted in the cross-cut
portion of the lid, thereby reducing mechanical wear on the
straw.
[0012] In at least one example of the above-described embodiments,
the intersection point of the cross-cut portion is located outboard
of a midpoint between the centerline of the lid and the cup lip
retaining portion. In some of these example embodiments, good (or
at least improved) paper straw longevity is obtained when the
distance D is a value less than 50 percent of the distance from the
cup lip retaining portion to the centerline of the lid, with
performance being further improved when the distance D is a value
approximately 45 percent, or less, than the distance from the cup
lip retaining portion to the centerline of the lid. In still other
examples of these embodiments, the distance D is a value
approximately 40 percent, or less, than the distance from the cup
lip retaining portion to the centerline of the lid; or a value
approximately 1/3rd, or less, than the distance from the cup lip
retaining portion to the centerline of the lid. In certain sized
lids, representing these example embodiments--such as lid having an
example diameter of between 90-100 millimeters--the distance D is a
value selected from between approximately 6-25 millimeters.
Optionally, the distance D may be even further reduced, such as to
between 0.5-6 millimeters.
[0013] In other embodiments of the invention, a lid (as described
herein) is combined with a paper straw inserted through a straw
receptacle of the lid, with the lid installed on a cup, to provide
a unique and performance improved lid/straw/cup combination. In
other embodiments, applicants consider the methods of using a lid
as described herein, or the lid/straw/cup combination, to obtain
improved drinking delivery performance and/or improved paper straw
durability, as one or more other inventions.
[0014] Certain examples of the invention are now described below
with respect to certain non-limiting embodiments thereof as
illustrated in the following drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXAMPLE DRAWINGS
[0015] The drawings submitted herewith, and which form a part of
this patent application, each illustrate an embodiment, or one or
more components of an embodiment, of a non-limiting example of
Applicant's inventive lids. While these drawings depict certain
preferred embodiments of Applicant's invention, as well as certain
particularly desirable features thereof, they are intended to be
examples only and should not be construed to limit the scope of
applicants' invention.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one non-limiting
embodiment of a lid according to the invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an elevation view of the side of the lid
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates an elevation view of the opposite side of
the lid illustrated in
[0019] FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 4. illustrates an elevation view of the straw
receptacle end of the lid illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 5. illustrates an elevation view of the drink-through
end of the lid illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 6. illustrates a top view of the lid depicted in FIG.
1.
[0023] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of another
non-limiting embodiment of a lid according to the invention, with
the pull-tear tab pulled open to expose an example drink-through
aperture.
[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates the lid embodiment depicted in FIG. 1,
installed on an example cup, with a paper straw installed in the
provided straw receptacle.
[0025] FIG. 9 illustrates a prior art lid, cup, and straw
combination.
[0026] FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-section of the lid depicted in
FIG. 1, combined with a duplicate cross-section, to demonstrate a
stacking function of such lid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0027] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is now made to the following description of various
illustrative and non-limiting embodiments thereof, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference
numbers indicate like features. These example embodiments,
disclosed and discussed below, will assist in a further
understanding of the inventions described and claimed herein, but
they are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any
way. Although dimensions are discussed in connection with some
embodiments, not all embodiments are intended to be limited to such
dimensions, and variants from such dimensions are of course
contemplated.
[0028] Referring initially to FIG. 1, one example embodiment of a
lid which addresses the above described problems in the art, or
which provides other improvements, is illustrated therein. As
illustrated, lid 1 has an overall circular configuration so that it
may be installed on a cup 101 (see FIG. 8) having a conventional
round opening at its top for receiving and dispensing liquid. For
this purpose, the lower portion of lid 1 is formed by a
circumferential skirt 3 which is designed to engage and grip a lip
103 of cup 101.
[0029] More specifically, skirt 3 comprises an annular wall 5 which
is angled to provide a sloped surface to engage cup lip 103. Angled
as such, the diameter of the lower edge surface of the (circular)
annular wall 5 is sized slightly larger than the diameter of a cup
lip onto which the lid will be installed. Moving up the sloped
surface of the annular wall, however, the diameter of the circular
surface decreases along the slope to provide a centering function
when lid 1 is placed on cup lip 103. The upper region of skirt 3 is
formed by a second annular wall 7 which joins wall 5 at
intersection region 9. Intersection region 9 has a diameter which
is less than the outer diameter of cup lip 103 but is plastically
deformable so that if pressure is placed on lid 1, the lid will
initially deform (to a greater diameter) and then snap in place
onto lip 103 with the lip thereafter being secured to and retained
by cup lip retaining portion 11.
[0030] Extending inboard and upwards from the cup lip retaining
portion 11 is a raised annular lid region 13 having a first portion
15 raised to a first height and a second portion 17 raised to a
second height greater than the first height. Inboard, in this
context, means in a direction, from the reference point, towards
the centerline of the lid. In the preferred embodiments
illustrated, the higher second portion 17 is configured from a
combination of two sloped surfaces bounding a centered constant
height region. The higher second portion is also preferably
configured to suitably conform to the shape of at least the lower
lip of a human user, with the outward facing, convex raised surface
being smooth, and sufficiently tall, to form a liquid tight seal
with a lower lip. This aids in preventing spillage when a human
user is drinking through the tab 23 of the lid, when used in the
"drink-through" mode.
[0031] Forming the center panel of the lid, and inboard of the
annular region 13, is a generally planar top panel 21 comprised of
an integrated circular-shaped panel region. By the term integrated,
it is meant that the lid is--in preferred embodiments--a one-piece
lid which can be formed using techniques such as vacuum forming
with lid molds. The planar top panel includes a center (or
centerline) 49 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Although a dot-type mark
is included in FIG. 1 to illustrate the location of the centerline,
such a mark does not exist in a manufactured lid in general
practice.
[0032] To enable drink-through functionalities in lid 1, a tab 23
is included in the planar top panel which can be opened (as
described below) to reveal a drink opening 30 through which liquid
beverage can be dispensed (see FIG. 7). In the embodiment
illustrated, drink opening 30 is located inboard of but proximal to
the height-raised portion 17 of annular lid region 13. Located as
such, drink opening 30 and portion 17 work together cooperatively
to provide an efficient drink delivery configuration where liquid
beverage which exits drink opening 30 may be guided by the inboard,
concave surface 20 of the raised annular portion 17, effectively
aiding in guiding liquid beverage to the mouth of a human user.
[0033] Tab 23 is normally closed, however, and is formed in lid 1
by imparting cuts into the surface of planar top panel 21. The cuts
imparted do not extend through the entire thickness of the tab, but
are sufficiently deep such that a human user can use his/her
fingers to pull the tab back to complete the separation of material
surfaces for the purposes of mechanically separating tab 23 from
top panel 21. This is typically done on at least 3 sides, to expose
drink-through aperture 30. Also, for this purpose, at least one
side or end--in this case end 29--is preferably left attached to
planar top panel 21 so that the tab remains attached to the lid.
This serves to prevent litter of lid parts, and also retains the
tab to the lid, so the tab may be potentially re-closed. In
optional alternative embodiments, however, the tab may be separated
from planar top panel 21 on all sides, so that tab 23 may be
disposed of once it is pulled back (i.e., opened to expose the
drink opening).
[0034] In the preferred configuration illustrated, tab 23 is formed
of two non-parallel sides 25a and 25b, a wide end (or side) 27, and
a narrow end 29 (see FIG. 1). Configured as such, when sides 25a,
25b, and 27 are detached from top panel 21, drink opening 30 with
the wide point nearest the concave, raised surface of lid portion
17 is formed. Narrow end 29 remains attached to panel 21, but tab
23 can otherwise be folded back in a direction towards lid center
(or centerline) 49, to expose the specially conformed drink
opening. This specialized opening configuration, in this preferred
embodiment, directs flow of liquid beverage (during use) to the
raised, concave surface of lid portion 17 to efficiently deliver
liquid beverage to the engaged mouth of a human user. For
embodiments in which it is desired to retain tab 23 attached to the
cup lid, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a tab
securing mechanism, for securing tab 23 in an open position, may
also be included. For example, as depicted in FIG. 1, tab 23
includes a male-protrusion 37, and planar top panel 21 includes a
female receptacle 39. Configured as such, when tab 23 is torn and
bent back from top panel 21, protrusion 37 can be pressed into a
friction-fit relationship with receptacle 39. In this friction-fit
state, the tab is adequately secured to keep drink opening 30
exposed for drinking use. Conversely, when a human user is done
drinking, protrusion 37 may be manually released from receptacle 39
so that tab 23 may be folded back to its original "closed" position
to effectively close drink opening 30.
[0035] Just as lid 1 is useable as a drink-through style lid, the
lid also includes a puncturable straw receptable region through
which a straw may be inserted for "straw drinking". Specifically,
as illustrated in FIG. 1, lid 1 includes a puncturable, cross-cut
straw hole 41 formed by providing intersecting linear cuts 43 and
45, which bisect each other at intersection point 47. Each cut 43
and 45 is preferably deep enough in planar top panel 21 to weaken
the region so that it may be easily punctured with a straw (or
finger in other embodiments), but without penetrating panel 21
entirely. Designed as such, prior to the straw receptable being
punctured, the closed (pre-puncture) configuration of the lid
prevents beverage from spilling or splashing through the straw
region when the lid is installed on a beverage filled cup.
[0036] As illustrated, puncturable straw receptacle 41 is, in this
embodiment, located generally opposite tab 23. Moreover, in order
to achieve at least certain of the advantages provided by the
unique lid described, intersection point 47 of the receptacle is
preferably located substantially spaced from the center (or
centerline) 49 of the lid, but also at a selected distance D
inboard of cup lip retaining portion 11 (see, e.g., FIG. 6). The
term "inboard", as used in this context (as elsewhere), means in a
direction towards the center 49 (or centerline) of lid 1. The value
of distance D, in preferred embodiments, is particularly selected
such that when a straw 201 is installed in straw receptable 41 of
the lid 1, in a location offset from lid center as shown in FIG. 8
(receptacle 41 not being visible in such figure), the lower end of
the straw 203 is located proximal a side wall 105 of installed-upon
cup 101. This installed location, as intended with this embodiment,
restricts back-and-forth movement of the straw within receptacle
41, and, moreover, places the beverage intake end of the straw near
or in a corner of the cup (where the bottom panel meets the side
wall). This location is where liquid beverage collects when the cup
is tilted for drinking. Accordingly, the straw need not be moved to
reach this location when using lid 1 with an installed straw during
a drinking operation. Consequently, mechanical wear on the straw is
reduced. See Prior Art FIG. 9 for comparison, which illustrates a
straw installed in a center location, which requires that the straw
be manipulated significantly to move the lower end of the straw
from the center of the cup, back and forth--half the diameter of
the cup in either direction--to the two cup corners.
[0037] Various straw receptacle locations have been determined to
be beneficial in this aspect, with the intersection point generally
being preferably located outboard of a midpoint between the
centerline 49 of the lid and cup lip retaining portion 11. The term
"outboard", as used in this context, means in a direction away from
the center 49 (or centerline) of lid 1 (i.e., in a direction
towards the outer circumference of the lid). More specifically,
improved straw longevity is obtained when the distance D is a value
less than 50 percent of the distance from cup lip retaining portion
11 to centerline 49, with performance being further improved when
the distance D is a value approximately 45 percent, or less, than
the distance from cup lip retaining portion 11 to centerline 49,
with the largest collective improvements being obtained when the
distance D is a value approximately 30-40 percent, or less, of the
distance from cup lip retaining portion 11 to the centerline 49. In
certain sized lids, representing these example embodiments--such
as--the distance D is a value selected from between approximately
6-25 millimeters. In other embodiments, the distance D may be even
further reduced, such as to between 0.5-6 millimeters.
[0038] In a preferred embodiment, an example diameter of lid 1
(measured at skirt 3) is approximately 92 mm. In such an
embodiment, the measured distance of straw receptacle 41 to the
most outboard edge of planar panel 21 is approximately 9.5 mm, with
the measurement to the outboard diameter (i.e., outside edge) of
lip retaining portion 11 being approximately 18.3 mm. Of course,
cup lids come in various sizes--such as for small, medium, and
large cups. Accordingly, these measurements are provided to
illustrate proportions only, with the important feature being to
locate the straw receptacle suitably off-center to position a lower
portion of an installed straw near a beverage cup side wall and/or
near the bottom corner of a beverage cup (e.g., where beverage
collects when the cup is tilted towards a human user during
use).
[0039] The above-described embodiments are particularly desirable
for providing a lid which not only possesses the hybrid
functionalities of both a straw receptacle and drink-through lid,
but also provides improved longevity for paper straws which are
otherwise prone to short useful lives and/or early failure. As yet
another benefit in the drink-through mode, straw receptacle 41 may
be punctured with a finger to provide air passage through the
resulting aperture. During drinking in a drink-through
configuration, this permitted air passage prevents a vacuum from
forming as liquid exits drink-through aperture 30, improving fluid
flow to a human mouth.
[0040] Furthermore, although planar top panel 21 is illustrated as
generally planar and oriented perpendicular to the center (or
centerline) 49 of lid 1, alternative embodiments in which panel 21
is angled away from "horizontal", or where the panel is not planar
but includes variations in topography, are contemplated. Such
alternative embodiments include, but are not limited to,
embodiments where the drink-through aperture of the lid is elevated
above the height of the straw receptable, and/or is located and
configured as an aperture in height-raised lid portion 17. In such
an embodiment, a removeable or openable tab 23 need not be
utilized, and a permanently open aperture--for drink through
use--is employed. In still other optional embodiments, a channel
(or circumferential "canal") 14 may optionally be included at the
intersection of cup lip retaining portion 11 and annular lid region
13. Such a channel, when included, can capture liquid beverage that
may be inadvertently spilled through either drink hole 30 or straw
receptacle 41. Similarly, the raised height of annular lid region
13, relative to planar panel 21, serves to retain liquid which
inadvertently exits either drink hole 30 or straw receptacle 4, on
the top surface of the lid, rather than permitting such liquid to
spill onto a human user.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 10, in an optional alternative
embodiment the size relationship between the lower skirt annular
wall 5 and the outer surface of cup lip retaining portion 11 is
selected to achieve desirable stacking performance. More
specifically, in one such example embodiment, the inside surface of
the lower skirt annular wall 5 has a diameter which is
complementary to the outer surface of cup lip retaining portion 11
so that when lids are stacked, one surface supports the other to
prevent the stacked lids from sticking together. Moreover, raised
annular region 13 is so configured and sized (e.g., such as through
the selection of angular configuration/relation, shape, and size),
as illustrated, so that the peak of the raised annular region of
the lower lid does not "stick" (or get readily stuck) in the valley
of the raised annular region of the upper lid (i.e., stacked on top
of the lower lid). Ready, efficient, and unencumbered removal of a
lid from a stack of lids is, of course, important in fast paced
retail customer settings, such as popular coffee shops like
Starbucks or Pete's Coffee. If a lid cannot be quickly removed from
a stack without sticking, for example, customer service is slowed
resulting in financial loss, because fewer customers are
served.
[0042] Example materials for constructing the lids described herein
are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP),
polystyrene (PS), and polylactic Acid (PLA). Although these are
particularly useful compositions for constructing lids--such as lid
1--the inventions described herein are not intended to be limited
to such materials.
[0043] Example Performance Testing:
[0044] In order to test the real-world efficacy of the
above-described embodiments, a lid having the configuration of lid
1, illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, was tested. The tests, and the results
of the tests, are described below:
[0045] Test 1--Straw (No Interaction with Lid)
[0046] In order to establish a baseline, a paper straw was first
tested by immersing it in liquids of varying types, including
water, milk, cold coffee, and cold tea. Specifically, a wound paper
straw was immersed in the aforesaid liquids and then tested for
softness and unwinding.
[0047] In such tests, although softness of the straw was
perceptible in all cases within ten minutes, or twenty minutes at
the latest, unwinding (or peeling) of the paper straw did not begin
to occur until approximately seventy minutes after testing began in
the case of water and milk. No unwinding (or peeling) was detected
after submersion in cold coffee or cold tea after eighty minutes,
upon which the tests were concluded.
[0048] Test 2--Straw Installed in Conventional Lid with Centered
Straw Receptacle
[0049] In a second test, wound paper straws were installed in a
conventional cold cup lid having a straw receptacle located at the
center of the lid. The cup upon which the lid was installed was
filled with water, milk, cold coffee, and cold tea, so that the
lower end of the straw was submersed in such liquids, just as the
similar wound paper straw was submersed in test 1. The straw was
then manipulated back and forth by a human tester to simulate the
back and forth movement of a straw in real world use, to test the
effects of the mechanical abrasion of the straw receptacle on the
straw, which occurs as the straw is being moved. Such straw
manipulation is common, of course, because a human user typically
maneuvers the lower end of the straw to reach the bottom corners of
a cup (where the side wall meets the bottom panel) to obtain access
to the liquid beverage which is carried there.
[0050] In all cases when performing this test, softness of the
paper straw was once again detected within ten minutes. Moreover,
presumably because of the aforedescribed softness, the ability to
manipulate the bottom portion of the straw was impacted negatively
also within ten minutes in all cases. In other words, because of
the softness of the straw, movement of the upper portion of the
straw did not result in the desired lower movement of the straw
after ten minutes. Accordingly, after ten minutes, the lower
portion of the straw could not be reliably, accurately positioned
to reach the desired regions of the beverage filled cup. The
following results were also observed: [0051] Water: Unwinding of
the straw began by minute thirty, with denting occurring no later
than minute ten. The ability to move the straw in and out of the
straw receptable was also impacted by minute thirty; [0052] Milk:
Denting was observed by minute twenty, with unpeeling of the straw
beginning by minute forty; [0053] Cold coffee: Denting was observed
by minute twenty, with unpeeling of the straw beginning by minute
forty. Straw was broken in one location by minute forty; [0054]
Cold tea: Denting was observed by minute twenty, with unpeeling of
the straw beginning by minute forty. Straw was broken in one
location by minute forty.
[0055] Test 3--Straw Installed in a Lid Having the Configuration of
Lid 1 (FIG. 1)
[0056] In a third test, a wound paper straw was installed in a cold
cup lid having a configuration similar to that depicted as lid 1 in
FIG. 1. That is, the straw receptacle in this tested lid was
located off-center, near the cup lip retaining portion, so that the
side wall of the cup would restrict movement of the straw.
Moreover, the lower end of the straw--when inserted at this straw
receptacle location--naturally positions itself near the bottom
corner of the beverage filled cup, obviating a need or desire to
move the straw with the same magnitude as conventional lids (such
as the lid described in Test 2). As described below, the
performance and durability of the wound paper straw improved during
this test.
[0057] Specifically, the wound paper straw in this test, like in
the other tests, exhibited softness within ten minutes when
installed on a beverage cup filled with water. However, because the
movement of the paper straw was restricted by the side wall of the
beverage cup, and because less manipulation of the straw is
required when installed in this position, the straw was subjected
to fewer dynamic mechanical abrasions or other destructive forces
during the test. Consequently, minor unwinding or peeling of the
straw did not begin until approximately minute fifty (an
improvement of approximately ten minutes). Moreover, the unwinding
(or peeling) was less severe than in test two, with no breakage or
other severe damage to the straw occurring. As a result, the paper
straw remained intact at the conclusion of the test after eighty
minutes.
[0058] Once given the above disclosure, many other features,
modifications, and improvements will become apparent to the skilled
artisan. Such features, modifications, and improvements are
therefore considered to be part of this invention, without
limitation imposed by the example embodiments described herein.
Moreover, any word, term, phrase, feature, example, embodiment, or
part or combination thereof, as used to describe or exemplify
embodiments herein, unless unequivocally set forth as expressly
uniquely defined or otherwise unequivocally set forth as limiting,
is not intended to impart a narrowing scope to the invention in
contravention of the ordinary meaning of the claim terms by which
the scope of the patent property rights shall otherwise be
determined:
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