Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Drinking device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-21
2001-04-24
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Drinking device
C220S713000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220476
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a lid for the use in combination with a beverage container and more particularly to a lid enabling drinking from the container without removal of the lid and which prevents spillage during use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Beverage container lids adapted to fasten over the rim or lip of disposable beverage containers are well known. Such lids reduce spillage and evaporation of the beverage within the container and help insulate the contents of the container from the external ambient temperature. In their most simple form, such beverage container lids comprise a generally flat lid surface in the form of a disk having a peripheral sealing skirt for securing the lid to the rim of the beverage container. While such lids are entirely suitable for the purposes just described, they must be completely removed in order to gain access to the contents of the container.
This problem has been substantially reduced for cold beverages by providing a selectively opened straw orifice in the lid. This allows access to the contents of the container without removing the lid. Unfortunately, the use of a straw for hot beverages such a coffee or hot chocolate is generally not preferred.
Improved container lids for hot beverages which include an openable tear strip or flap have been devised. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,868,043, 3,977,559, 4,090,660, and 4,210,272. Such modified beverage container lids offer the advantage of allowing limited access to the contents of the container while still covering most of the open end of the container. However, this type of lid has the disadvantage of providing a direct path from which the beverage in the container can easily spill during use.
Further improvements have been made to the beverage container lids including fold back flaps, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,994,411, 4,202,459, 4,322,015, 4,473,167, 4,629,088, 4,738,373, 5,090,584, 5,111,961, 5,183,172, 5,197,624 and 5,613,619. These fold back flaps and various means for securing tear strip or flap in its fully folded back configuration have been provided. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,411 discloses a container lid having a fold-back flap which includes a pull tab along its outermost edge. The pull tab may be inserted into a slit along the outermost edge of the lid to hold the flap in its fully open position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,459 discloses an embossed slot formed in the upper surface of the lid which is able to receive the peripheral skirt of the lid when the flap is fully folded back. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,015 discloses a container lid having a fold-back flap which is secured by one or more retainer studs which project upward from the upper surface of the lid. Although each of these designs is workable, there are several disadvantages, in particular, the openable flaps frequently become dislodged from their retaining means and are difficult to hold in the open position. In the case of recloseable flaps, they often do not adequately seal the opening when closed and are difficult to hold in the closed position. Moreover, it is frequently necessary to employ relatively heavy gauge or stiff materials in order to achieve a highly reliable fastening system which is more expensive. Another disadvantage results when the flaps do not tear accurately along the intended line and form sharp edges at each side of the opening thereby formed in the rim or skirt of the container lid which causes discomfort during use. Furthermore, once the flap has been released the lid edges on either side of the opening are difficult to secure to the container lip and do not make an adequate seal allowing the contents of the container to spill from these edges during normal use.
Consequently, a lid which does not have to be removed from the beverage container, does not suffer from the disadvantages discussed above and significantly reduces or prevents spillage during normal use is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a lid is provided for a beverage container, wherein the lid comprises: a top wall having a generally circular periphery, an annular side wall depending from the top wall about its periphery, a drinking opening in the top wall adjacent to the circular periphery, a barrier which extends from the annular side wall generally parallel to the top wall to prevent direct flow of a beverage from the beverage container through the drinking opening, and an annular mounting portion at the bottom of the side wall for sealingly engaging the lid of the beverage container enabling mobility of the beverage container without spillage during normal use.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a lid comprising a top wall having a generally circular periphery, an annular side wall depending from the top wall about its circular periphery, a drinking opening in the top wall adjacent to the circular periphery, a fluid channel formed in the top wall said channel comprising a fluid path which prevents direct flow of the beverage from the container through the drinking opening, and an annular mounting portion at the bottom of said side wall for sealingly engaging the lid of the beverage container enabling mobility of the container without spillage of the beverage.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a lid comprising a top wall having a generally circular periphery, an annular side wall depending from the top wall about its circular periphery, a drinking spout formed in the top wall and along the circular periphery, the spout having a top portion, a sloped side wall extending from the top wall to the top portion, the top portion having a drinking opening, a barrier formed in and perpendicular to the sloped side wall to prevent direct flow of the beverage from the container through the drinking opening, and an annular mounting portion at the bottom of said side wall for sealingly engaging the lid of the beverage container enabling mobility of the container without spillage of the beverage.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a lid comprising a top wall having a generally circular periphery, an annular side wall depending from the top wall about its circular periphery, a drinking spout formed in the top wall and along the circular periphery, the spout having a top portion, a sloped side wall extending from the top wall to the top portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion having a drinking opening, the sloped side wall having a barrier formed perpendicular to the sloped side wall to prevent direct flow of the beverage from the container through the drinking opening; and the bottom portion having a fluid opening in line with the barrier, and an annular mounting portion at the bottom of said side wall for sealingly engaging the lid of the beverage container enabling mobility of the container without spillage of the beverage.
In another embodiment of the invention the barrier of the beverage container lid is formed in the shape of an arc the arc having a concave portion and a convex portion wherein the concave portion is directed away from the drinking opening and the convex portion in directed toward the opening.
In another embodiment the bottom portion of the spout is sloped toward the annular side wall and wherein the fluid opening is at the base of the slope.
In other embodiments the lid further comprises a vent hole in the top wall adjacent to the drinking opening; may further comprise at least three stacking ridges extending upward from the top wall or may further comprise two stacking ridges wherein the drinking spout is positioned between them.
In another embodiment the combination of the lid engaged with a beverage container is provided.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2456989 (1948-12-01), Polcyn
patent: 2761301 (1956-09-01), Tellier
patent: 3868043 (1975-02-01), Freemyer
patent: 3977559 (1976-08-01), Lombardi
patent: 3994411 (1976-11-01), Elfelt
patent: 4202459 (1980-05-01), DeParales
patent: 4322015 (1982-03-01), Baily
patent: 4473167 (1984-09-01), Bailey
patent: 4589569 (1986-05-01), Clements
patent: 4629088 (1
Pollard Steven
Waller David B.
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