Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
  • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
  • B65D43/0214—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity
  • B65D43/0218—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity on both the inside and the outside of the mouth of the container
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G19/00—Table service
  • A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
  • A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
  • A47G19/2266—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
  • A47G19/2272—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
  • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
  • B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
  • B65D43/0208—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections on both the inside and the outside of the mouth of the container
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00046—Drinking-through lids
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
  • B65D2543/00074—Shape of the outer periphery curved
  • B65D2543/00092—Shape of the outer periphery curved circular
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
  • B65D2543/00296—Plastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00342—Central part of the lid
  • B65D2543/00351—Dome-like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
  • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
  • B65D2543/00509—Cup
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
  • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
  • B65D2543/00555—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on both the inside and the outside
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
  • B65D2543/00611—Profiles
  • B65D2543/00629—Massive bead
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
  • B65D2543/00675—Periphery concerned
  • B65D2543/00685—Totality
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
  • B65D2543/00722—Profiles
  • B65D2543/0074—Massive bead
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
  • B65D2543/00787—Periphery concerned
  • B65D2543/00796—Totality

Definitions

• the subject matter of this invention is directed to a removable lid for a beverage container and more particularly to a lid that is designed to minimize the possibility of burning a user's mouth during consuming a hot beverage and also substantially prevent accidental spillage of the liquid beverage from the beverage container.
• beverage containers that are made of paper and plastic that are intended to be used once and then disposed. It is also exceedingly common for individuals to utilize these disposable beverage containers to contain hot beverages such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate. It is common that an individual is mobile while consuming of the beverage as the individual may be walking from one location to another, riding in a car or doing some other activity other than merely sitting. It is common to have a lid substantially enclose the open mouth of the beverage container. The primary function of the lid is to prevent leakage of the beverage which can easily occur when the consumer is moving from one location to another or riding in a car.
• the movement of the car or the movement of the consumer can cause the beverage to move within the beverage container and be squirted out through the dispensing opening formed within the lid. This spilling of the beverage can be deposited on the consumer's hands and clothing or on articles contained near the consumer, such as on a desk.
• lids of the past Another problem associated with lids of the past is that the hot liquid is dispensed directly from the beverage container, through the dispensing opening into the consumer's mouth. Frequently, the hot liquid is at such an elevated temperature that it can actually cause a burn to occur on the lips of the consumer and within the mouth of the consumer. In the past, there has not been made any effort to construct lids to substantially eliminate the possibility of the consumer being burned.
• a first embodiment of beverage container lid which has an exterior cover and an interior cover, both of which are discoid shaped.
• the peripheral edge of the interior cover is permanently secured to the peripheral edge of the exterior cover.
• Located between the interior cover and the exterior cover is a substantially enclosed space.
• the peripheral edge of the exterior cover is to be removably mounted over the mouth of a beverage container with the liquid of the beverage container to be capable of being moved through an inlet opening formed within the interior cover to then be contained within the substantially enclosed space.
• the inlet opening is non-centrally located within the interior cover with the forward edge of the inlet opening being located substantially closer to the peripheral edge than the rearward edge of the inlet opening.
• a partition is attached to the interior cover and is located within the substantially enclosed space.
• the partition has a top edge which is to be located in contact with the interior surface of the exterior cover.
• the length of the partition is to be at least equal to the length of the inlet opening which requires that the beverage that passes through the inlet opening must pass around the partition to be located within a gap area defined as being part of the substantially enclosed space.
• a dispensing opening is formed within the exterior cover and is aligned with the gap area. The beverage from the gap area is to be dispensed exteriorly of the beverage container through this dispensing opening by tilting of the beverage container.
• a second embodiment of beverage container lid which also has an exterior cover and an interior cover both of which are discoid.
• the peripheral edge of the interior cover is permanently secured to the peripheral edge of the exterior cover.
• Located between the interior cover and the exterior cover is a substantially enclosed space.
• the peripheral edge of the exterior cover is to be removably mounted over the mouth of the beverage container with the liquid of the beverage container to be capable of being moved through a pair of inlet openings formed within the interior cover to then be contained within the substantially enclosed space.
• the pair of inlet openings are non-centrally located within the interior cover with the forward edge of the inlet openings being located substantially closer to the peripheral edge than the rearward edge of the inlet openings.
• a wall assembly in the form of a pair of upstanding members is attached to the interior cover with the upstanding members being located between the pair of inlet openings.
• Each upstanding member has a top edge which is to be located in contact with the interior surface of the exterior cover.
• the length of the upstanding members is to be at least equal to the length of the inlet openings which requires that the vast majority of the beverage that passes through the inlet openings must pass around the upstanding members to be located within a gap area defined as being part of the substantially enclosed space.
• a dispensing opening is formed within the exterior cover and is aligned with the gap area. The beverage from the gap area is to be dispensed exteriorly of the beverage container through this dispensing opening by tilting of the beverage container.
• Each upstanding member abuts against a raised surface formed on the interior surface of the exterior cover.
• Each of these raised surfaces includes a groove which permits a small quantity of the beverage to be conducted directly from the substantially enclosed space to be deposited within gap area. These grooves provide an initial quantity of beverage into the gap area when the user is taking his or her first drink.
• the interior cover also includes a weep hole through which the liquid that is contained within the substantially enclosed space can flow back into the beverage container and thereby be reheated if a substantial length of time has occurred from the most recent consumption. Also formed within the interior cover and the exterior cover is a vent.
• the primary objective of the present invention is to construct a beverage container lid which substantially eliminates the possibility of spillage of the beverage from the beverage container upon the beverage container encountering a sudden movement.
• Another objective of the present invention is to construct a beverage container lid which substantially eliminates the possibility of a hot beverage burning of the consumer's lips or mouth during consuming of the hot beverage.
• Another objective of the present invention is to construct a beverage container lid which can be constructed inexpensively and therefor sold to the ultimate consumer at a relatively inexpensive price.
• Another objective of the present invention is to construct a beverage container lid which is simple in construction and therefore non-complex to manufacture.
• Figure 1 is an exterior view of a typical be ' verage container on which has been installed the first embodiment of beverage container lid of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of beverage container lid of the present invention taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the beverage container and the first embodiment of beverage container lid of this invention taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the beverage container in a normal resting upright position;
• Figure 4 is a view partly in cross-section through the first embodiment of beverage container lid of the present invention taken along line
• Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the beverage container in the typical tilted position for consuming of the beverage contained within the beverage container;
• Figure 6 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of beverage container lid of the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the second embodiment of beverage container lid of the present invention taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the second embodiment of beverage container lid of the present invention taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7 showing in more detail the flow of the beverage through the dispensing opening;
• Figure 9 is a view partly in cross-section of the interior surface of the exterior cover of the second embodiment of beverage container lid of the present invention taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8.
• FIG. 1 a beverage container 10 that has an internal chamber 1 2. Within the internal chamber 1 2 there is to be located a quantity of a beverage 14.
• the beverage container 10 has an open mouth 1 6.
• a typical beverage could be a cold beverage or a hot beverage.
• the structure of the present invention is designed in particular to be used in conjunction with a hot beverage such as tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
• the open mouth 16 is to be closeable by a first embodiment of lid 18.
• the lid 18 is to be constructed of plastic or other similar type of sheet material such as a paper composition.
• the lid 18 has an exterior cover 20 and an interior cover 22. Both the exterior cover 20 and the interior cover 22 are of a discoid shape and are both substantially planar. However, it is to be within the scope of this invention that the covers 20 and 22 could be other than a discoid shape, such as for an example a square shape or another polygonal shape such as hexagonal or octagonal. Typically, the thickness of the covers 20 and 22 will generally by about one-eighth of an inch.
• the interior cover 22 has a peripheral edge which is formed into an annular flange 24.
• the upper edge of the annular flange 24 is glued or otherwise fixedly secured, as by heat sealing, to the inside surface of the exterior cover 20. Integrally connected to the peripheral edge of the exterior cover 20 is an annular depending flange 26. In between the depending flange 26 and the annular flange 24 is located an annular groove 28. The upper edge of the beverage container 10 located at the open mouth 16 is to be snugly located within the annular groove 28. This will fixedly secure the lid 18 onto the beverage container 10. However, the lid 18 can be manually disengaged from the beverage container 10 by merely pulling of the lid 1 8 away from the beverage container 10.
• the interior cover 22 includes an inlet opening 30.
• the inlet opening 30 is generally no more than three quarters of an inch to one inch in length and about one quarter of an inch wide.
• the inlet opening 30 is located in an off center position within the interior cover 22.
• the inlet opening 30 has a forward edge 32 and a rearward edge 34.
• a small quantity of the beverage 14 is to flow through the inlet opening 30 to within the substantially enclosed space 36 formed between the exterior cover 20 and the interior cover 22.
• Fixedly mounted onto the upper surface of the interior cover 22 at the forward edge 32 is a partition 38.
• the partition 38 has a top edge that is to be in contact with the interior surface of the exterior cover 20.
• the partition 38 comprises an arcuately shaped wall that is about three quarters to an inch long with it be important that the partition 38 be at least as long as the length of the inlet opening 30.
• the partition 38 comprises the "punched out” material of interior cover 1 2 that forms inlet opening 30.
• the gap area 40 is generally no more than a quarter to a half inch wide. This means the partition 38 is located very near the annular flange 24 with there being a substantial amount of space from the rearward edge 34 to the annular flange 24.
• a dispensing opening 46 Connecting with the gap area 40 is a dispensing opening 46, which is shown to be of a triangular configuration.
• the consumer is to locate his or her mouth about the dispensing opening 46 with the upper lip being located in the area of the point 48 and the bottom lip located close to but spaced from the base 50.
• the point 48 prevents the beverage, if hot, from contacting to any great extent the upper lip of the consumer. This is so as to protect the upper lip against burning.
• the beverage has to travel some distance, that is from the inlet opening 30, around the partition 38, to within the gap area 40 prior to being dispensed through the dispensing opening 46. This distance of travel should be sufficient enough to substantially cool the beverage and prevent burning of any portion of the consumer's mouth. Also, the vent holes 52 help to cool the beverage by letting "steam" escape into the ambient.
• vent holes 52 are so small that a minimal amount of beverage could flow through these holes 52 into the ambient if the beverage container 10 is tipped over. The purpose of this is to prevent contamination of the consumer's workplace as well as the consumer's clothes and contact with the consumer's person.
• partition 38 is shown to be of an arcuate configuration which is believed to help in directing the beverage 42 in the direction of arrows 42, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention that the partition 38 could be of another configuration, such as a straight configuration or possibly even a convex configuration rather than concave shown in Figure 4.
• the second embodiment 54 includes an exterior cover 56 and an interior cover 58. Both the exterior cover 56 and interior cover 58 are discoid shape. However, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention that the covers 56 and 58 could be other than a discoid shape. Again, the thickness of the covers 56 and 58 will generally be about one-eighth of an inch.
• the exterior cover 56 has an inner surface that defines an internal chamber 60. Formed within the exterior cover 56 is a dispensing opening 62. The dispensing opening 62 is positioned directly adjacent the peripheral edge 64 of the exterior cover 56.
• a raised surface 66 Formed integral with the exterior cover 56 and located within the internal chamber 60 and positioned just on one side of the dispensing opening 62 is a raised surface 66 with a similar raised surface 68 being located on the opposite side of the dispensing opening 62.
• the raised surface 66 includes a through groove 70 with a similar through groove 72 being formed within the raised surface 68.
• the purposes of the through grooves 70 and 72 will be explained further on in the specification.
• the exterior cover 56 also includes a vent hole 74.
• the vent hole 74 may directly connect with the substantially enclosed space 76 of the interior cover 58 or may connect directly with a hole 78 formed within a post 80 which is formed integral with the interior cover 58.
• the post 80 is to cause the venting of steam to occur directly from the internal chamber 82 of the beverage container 84.
• Hot liquids 86 such as coffee or tea, are to be contained within the internal chamber 82.
• the exterior cover 56 includes a centrally located indentation 88. This indentation 88 is for the purpose of giving strength to the overall construction of the exterior cover 56.
• the interior cover 58 also includes a partition in the form of a pair of spaced apart upstanding walls 90 and 92. Outside of the upstanding wall 92 is located a hole 94. Outside of the upstanding wall 90 is a hole 96. In between the walls 90 and 92 is located a gap area 98.
• the beverage container When the beverage container is first tilted and the first drink is to be consumed from the beverage container, there should be no beverage contained within the substantially enclosed space 76. Also, if it had been some time since the last drink, the beverage 102 that would have been contained within the substantially enclosed space 76 would have leaked back through weep hole 100 into the internal chamber 82 to be intermixed with and reheated by hot beverage 86. However, when the first drink is being consumed, there will normally be no liquid contained within the substantially enclosed space 76 as it will take some time (a few seconds) for the beverage to pass through the holes 94 and 96 to fill the substantially enclosed space 76 and then flow around the upstanding walls 90 and 92 to fill the gap area 98.
• the beverage is permitted to flow through the through grooves 70 and 72 directly into the gap area 98.
• This initial direct flow of the beverage will then provide an immediate small quantity 104 of the beverage to the user to be consumed.
• This flowing through the through grooves 70 and 72 will cause a drop in temperature of the beverage so that the beverage is cooled somewhat so as to not be too hot when initially consumed.
• the time that it takes for the beverage to flow into the substantially enclosed space 76 and then around the upstanding walls 90 and 92 into the gap area 98 will result in the quantity 104 to be at a lesser temperature than the quantity 102 of the beverage or the beverage 86 so that the quantity 104 that is being directly consumed will not cause a burning of the consumer's mouth.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=32391454

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (9)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2002
  • 2002-11-26 MX MXPA05005625A patent/MXPA05005625A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2002-11-26 CN CNB028299469A patent/CN100405958C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-11-26 JP JP2004555242A patent/JP2006507194A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-11-26 WO PCT/US2002/038162 patent/WO2004047596A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2002-11-26 EP EP02784649A patent/EP1565093A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-11-26 CA CA2506661A patent/CA2506661C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-11-26 AU AU2002346580A patent/AU2002346580B2/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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