Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Drinking device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2001-10-23
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Drinking device
C229S404000, C222S424000, C222S564000, C222S571000, C215S387000, C220S713000, C220S716000, C220S254800, C220S256100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305571
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to lid devices for use in drinking cups. More specifically, the invention relates to lid devices for drinking containers which permit dispensing therefrom while minimizing splashing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The fast food industry has experienced tremendous growth in the last several decades. While many fast food customers opt to consume their meals at the restaurants, just as often the food and beverages purchased are taken out. As our society becomes more mobile in nature, the “take-out” consumer sector may be increasing.
Consequently, new products directed toward this particular customer group are released periodically by the fast food industry. One example is the establishment of drive-through windows for the purchase of food while remaining seated in you automobile. Another example is the expansion of take-out beverages and other fast food items by gas service stations and mini-markets. Even traditional sit-down restaurants have expanded their menus to permit customers to purchase food-to-go.
Another area targeted by the fast food industry is the packaging of the food and/or beverages themselves. Of particular concern is the use of lid and container assemblies for hot beverages which have shown to create substantial hazards to the mobile consumer such as risks of skin burns and stained clothing. In fact, in the recent past, there have been several highly publicized accidents involving hot beverages.
Currently, hot beverages are disposed in a disposable container together with a snap-on lid device adapted to press-fit or interference fit onto an upper rim of the container. Generally, the lid device includes a top cover portion extending fully across the mouth of the container when it is mounted to the upper rim. An orifice or the like extends through the top cover portion to enable dispensing and access to the beverage through the lid device. Typical of these designs may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,569 to Clements.
One problem associated with these snap-on lid devices is that although such designs substantially reduce spillage, splashing of the hot beverage through the drinking orifice of the cover can still occur. In fact, even small jarring movements can result in splashing through the orifice and onto the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a splashless lid device for dispensing fluid contained in a drinking container. The lid device includes a mounting portion configured to sealingly engage a lip portion of the container for removable mounting thereto. A top cover is coupled to the mounting portion and extending substantially laterally across the container opening when the mounting portion is sealingly engaged with the container lip portion. The top cover includes a top wall and a bottom wall cooperating to define an interior cavity therebetween. The top wall includes a drinking port in flow communication with the interior cavity, and the bottom wall defines a baffle opening extending into the interior cavity. The baffle opening is adapted to reduce splash of fluid flow therethrough such that during fluid dispensing from the container, the fluid must pass through the baffle opening and into the interior cavity prior to passing through the drinking port.
This configuration, accordingly, substantially reduces splashing of the contained fluids from the drinking port even when the drinking container is jarred or jolted. This is performed by requiring fluids to first pass into the interior cavity through baffle openings before exiting through the drinking port, and then by orienting the longitudinal axis of the baffle opening generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drinking port.
In one embodiment, the bottom wall includes a drain port extending into the interior cavity to drain fluid contained therein when the container is oriented in an upright condition. The drain port is spaced-apart from and vertically lower than the baffle opening to induce gravity flow of the fluid therethrough. This arrangement is advantageous since a self-draining capability of the interior cavity is provided when the container is held upright. The interior cavity is sloped toward the drain hole, which is located in the bottom wall of the interior chamber at the periphery of the chamber but opposite in location from the drinking port.
In another embodiment, the splashless lid device may be provided by a top cover and a bottom cover which are press-fit together, and which cooperate to define the interior cavity. The lid device includes an alignment device aligning the position of the baffle opening proximate the drinking portion when the bottom cover is mounted to the top cover. The alignment device includes an alignment ridge and an alignment slot formed and dimensioned for aligned receipt of the alignment ridge therein. The alignment ridge extends upwardly from the bottom wall, while the alignment slot is defined in the top wall, and.
In another aspect of the present invention, a drinking container assembly for dispensing a fluid therefrom. The container assembly includes a container having a lip portion which defines an opening into the container. A splashless lid device is included having a mounting portion configured to sealingly engage the lip portion of the container for removable mounting thereto. A top cover is coupled to the mounting portion and extends substantially laterally across the container opening when the mounting portion is sealingly engaged with the container lip portion. The top cover includes a top wall and a bottom wall cooperating to define an interior cavity therebetween. The top wall has a drinking port in flow communication with the interior cavity, and the bottom wall defines a baffle opening extending into the interior cavity which is adapted to reduce splash of fluid flow therethrough. Thus, during fluid dispensing from the container, the fluid must pass through the baffle opening and into the interior cavity prior to passing through the drinking port.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 31650 (1984-08-01), Serritella
patent: 3360160 (1967-12-01), Spencer
patent: 3360161 (1967-12-01), Smith
patent: 3938695 (1976-02-01), Ruff
patent: 4085861 (1978-04-01), Ruff
patent: 4215793 (1980-08-01), Packard
patent: 4322014 (1982-03-01), Philip
patent: 4331255 (1982-05-01), Fournier
patent: 4394928 (1983-07-01), Philip
patent: 4433800 (1984-02-01), Owens
patent: 4589569 (1986-05-01), Clements
patent: 4619372 (1986-10-01), McFarland
patent: 4842165 (1989-06-01), Van Coney
patent: 4890770 (1990-01-01), Haga et al.
patent: 4953743 (1990-09-01), Dart et al.
patent: 4991747 (1991-02-01), Van Brocklin
patent: 5143248 (1992-09-01), Sawatsky
patent: 5193722 (1993-03-01), Groya et al.
patent: 5531363 (1996-07-01), Gross et al.
patent: 5540350 (1996-07-01), Lansky
patent: 5601203 (1997-02-01), Brun, Jr.
patent: 5792654 (1998-08-01), Bohannon et al.
patent: 5890619 (1999-04-01), Belanger
patent: 5979689 (1999-11-01), Lansky
patent: 5988426 (1999-11-01), Stern
patent: 6095033 (2000-08-01), Melton
patent: 2053865 (1991-02-01), None
Beyer Weaver & Thomas LLP
Hylton Robin
Shoap Allan N.
LandOfFree
Lid device with splashless baffle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lid device with splashless baffle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lid device with splashless baffle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2577161