Receptacles – Compartmented container – Compartment in closure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-04-03
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Compartmented container
Compartment in closure
C220S023860, C220S380000, C220S521000, C220S212000, C220S712000, C220S735000, C220S713000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for juxtaposing a plurality of objects to a cup or other food or beverage container and more specifically to a device for attaching a coffee stirrer and condiments to a lid adapted to be removably attached to a disposable cup or other food or beverage container.
2. Background of the Invention
Present lifestyles stress speed, mobility, and flexibility. More and more meals are consumed on the run, in the car, on the train. These meals are purchased at fast food outlets by customers in a hurry who demand customized service but who also require that their purchases be packaged in a manner that will facilitate convenient consumption. Correspondingly, the fast-food industry demands more efficient and streamlined methods of providing service to their customers in a cost effective manner.
A typical purchase from a fast-food establishment is the morning cup of coffee or similar beverage on a carry-out basis. Generally, a hot beverage is served in an insulated and/or disposable cup that is sealed with a removable and disposable plastic lid that maintains the temperature of the beverage and prevents spillage. The lid is usually snapped over the rim of the cup. To consume the beverage, one either removes the lid, or, in many circumstances, pries off a portion of the lid that is especially designed to be so detached.
An example of such a disposable lid is reissued U.S. Pat. No. RE31650 to Serritella entitled NON-SPILLABLE CUP LID. Serritella discloses a disposable lid for a coffee cup having penetrable score lines around the sides of a 90° sectorial portion to form an opening providing drinking access. The remainder of the lid provides protection against spillage of the contents of the cup.
A similar example is disclosed by Freemyer (U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,043) and entitled NO-SPILL HOT CUP LID. Freemyer discloses a lid with a perforated drinking section along one edge. The top of the lid slopes towards the drinking section thus providing a funnel for inserting additives in the beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,131 to Phillips entitled COFFEE LID teaches a disposable coffee cup lid having an open top comprising a dome shaped cover with an air vent hole that conforms to the coffee cup. A flexible drinking spout for drinking access is formed in the cover and has a shielding structure capable of opening an air vent during use of the spout and sealing the air vent in periods of nonuse.
While all of the above-mentioned lids are capable of preventing spillage, they have common disadvantages. For example, several hand movements are needed to acquire both the filled and sealed cup and any condiments (cream, sugar, etc.) desired. Often, an additional bag containing a stirrer and the condiments is provided. However, this practice wastes paper and entails appreciable environmental and financial costs. It is also time consuming, which is a serious drawback especially during peak business hours. Finally, digging through a condiment bag, which may also contain other items, is frustrating to customers who later learn that not all desired condiments have been included during sometimes rushed exchanges.
Efforts have been made to combine condiment and beverage distribution at the retail level. U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,276 to Lialin, entitled MULTI FUNCTIONAL LID comprises an attachable lid having several sealed independent compartments filled with additives. In operation, when pressure is applied to the top of a compartment, a plunger contained therein punctures the bottom of the compartment and releases the additives into the beverage contained in the cup. The condiments are pre-inserted during lid fabrication.
Certain additional costs are associated with this configuration. For example, depending on the pre-inserted condiments, the lids must be shipped and stored in refrigerated containers. Also, this configuration provides the retailer with no flexibility in selecting only those condiments desired by the customer, yet the retailer must pay for the inclusion of all pre-inserted condiments. Furthermore, the customer has no choice in the amount or types of condiments. Additional or substitute condiments must be supplied in a separate paper bag, hence revisiting the problems outlined supra.
A need exists in the art for a device which combines lid, condiments, and stirrer in an environment-friendly manner. The device should promote cost savings and customized service, particularly during the rush hour. The device should not only eliminate the need for an additional bag, but also facilitate faster and customized service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for the simultaneous delivery of a beverage and assorted condiments that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi functional, cost-effective condiment lid. A feature of the present invention is that it contains compartments for removably positioning utensils and condiments on the outside of a beverage-confining container. An advantage of the invention is that no additional bag or hand movements or other labor is required to facilitate simultaneous transfer of the beverage and condiments. Another advantage is that the invention provides consumers with a rapid view of the utensils and additives simultaneously tendered with the subject beverage or food.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an environmentally sound disposable condiment lid. A feature of the invention is that it positions utensils, and various shaped additives onto a single substrate attached to the food container. An advantage of the invention is that the combined unit reduces material waste.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable condiment lid that can improve customer service during peak business times. A feature of the invention is that the lids hold condiments and stirrer firmly enough in place so that the lids loaded with their contents can be easily manipulated. An advantage of the invention is that the stirrer and condiments can be placed on each lid in anticipation of peak business hours.
Briefly, the present invention provides a device for juxtaposing a plurality of objects to a container having a rim, said device comprising a generally planar substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said substrate adapted to be removably attached to the rim; and a region integrally molded with said top surface, to removably confine the objects to said substrate.
Also provided is a lid for a beverage cup comprising a first region adapted to support liquid condiment containers, a second region adapted to support non-liquid condiment containers, and a third region adapted to support an utensil.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 2276678 (1942-03-01), Wheeler
patent: 3598271 (1971-08-01), Holley
patent: 4627537 (1986-12-01), Rogers
patent: 5180079 (1993-01-01), Jeng
patent: 5657898 (1997-08-01), Portman et al.
patent: 5722558 (1998-03-01), Thompson
patent: 5894952 (1999-04-01), Mendenhall et al.
patent: 5911331 (1999-06-01), Boller
Cherskov & Flaynik
Cronin Stephen K.
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