GB2303051A

GB2303051A - Hinged lid for disposable cup

Info

Publication number: GB2303051A
Application number: GB9514293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nichola Barry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-13
Filing date: 1995-07-13
Publication date: 1997-02-12
Also published as: GB9514293D0

Abstract

A lid (3) for use with disposable plastic cups, beakers and other vessels as are commonly used by 'take-away' restaurants, snack bars, drink dispensers and the like has attached by a plastic hinge (1) a collar (2) to fit snugly underneath the top lip of the cup, beaker or vessel (4), and thus the hinge (1) holds attached the lid (3) and allows the attached lid to be opened and closed over the cup, beaker or vessel but remain attached before, during and after use and consumption of the contents of the receptacle.

Description

IMPROVED LID This invention relates to an improvement in a lid suitable for a conventional disposable beaker or other vessel and use thereof.

Cups, beakers and other drinks containers which are commonly issued by 'take-away' restaurants, snack booths, bars and the like are conventionally made of a plastics material such as polyethylene or polystyrene or the like.

These have the advantage of being light, stackable and adapted for use with drinks dispensing equipment. It is expected by the vendor that such drinks containers will be thrown away by the customer after use and therefore all such containers are referred to herein as 'disposable vessels'. In association with the beaker, a lid, often of the same material as the cup or of a thinner, more brittle plastics material, is provided which is independent of the beaker and fits over the top rim of the beaker by means of, for example, twin and parallel circumferential ridges in between which the rim fits snugly.

However, in use, various disadvantages are common to such lids. Frequently, removing the lid from the beaker causes the lid to split, rendering it less capable or incapable of performing its function thereafter.

Furthermore, once removed, there is the problem of what to do with the lid if there might occur the need to replace it. This is a particular problem when the drink is purchased for consumption on a moving vehicle such as a train. Very often, there is nowhere to put the removed lid which is, by that stage, usually dripping with drink condensate. Even if a table or other surface is available, the lid is often knocked or jolted to the ground, or contaminated with soils from the surface.

The present invention overcomes these problems of re-use and hygiene by providing a cover suitable for attaching to a disposable drinking vessel which cover comprises a lid portion adapted to fit over the top rim of the vessel and a sleeve portion adapted to engage the vessel whereby, once in position, the sleeve remains engaged with the vessel to allow the lid to be lifted on or off the top rim.

Preferably, the sleeve is attached to the lid via a hinge element which remains intact even after the lid is lifted off the top rim. More preferably, the lid is of a conventional brittle plastics construction comprising twin ridges for engaging the top rim as hereinbefore described.

The sleeve is conveniently made out of the same material as the lid and preferably comprises a ring whose inner circumference enables the ring to fit snugly around a circumference of the vessel sited just below the top rim thereof. The distance between the top of the sleeve and the top rim is preferably just less than the depth of the lid, to allow a close fit.

More preferably, the lid and sleeve comprising the drinking vessel cover of this invention are manufactured in one piece, as a single item, with the outer circumference of the lid abutting the inner circumference of the sleeve.

Alternatively, the outer circumferences of the lid and the sleeve may be substantially the same so that the sleeve and lid are stacked and spaced apart only by the hinge. A plurality of covers may then be stacked together for easy storage and transport, in a similar manner to the conventional lids described hereinabove. In use, the lid portion would then be pressed out of or otherwise separated from the sleeve portion before attaching or fitting to a drinking vessel.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cover according to this invention in a closed or storage position; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cover of Figure 1 in an open position; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the cover of Figure 2 in use; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the cover of Figure 1 in use.

An attachable plastic cup cover ((1)-(3)) is shown comprising, in addition to the lid (3) for the plastic cup, attached thereto a sleeve (2) which is hinged (1) to the lid (3) at one part of the circumference of the lid (3).

Otherwise, the sleeve (2) is not connected to the lid (3) and thus the sleeve (2) may be held apart from the lid (3) except at the hinge (1) (Figure 2).

The inner circumference of the sleeve (2) is of a dimension to fit snugly around the outside of the cup (4) such that when the sleeve (2) is slid under the cup and then pushed/pulled up to the top of the cup (4), it will remain in place of its own accord (Figures 3 and 4).

Once the sleeve (2) has been pushed/pulled to the top of the cup (4), the attached conventional lid (1) may then be pressed down onto the top of the cup (4) to seal the contents in the usual way. The lid (1) may then be opened and closed, and re-opened and re-closed with ease whilst the contents are consumed or preserved, as the case may be.

Once the contents have been consumed, the cup and the lid will remain together as one, lid open or closed, for disposal.

Claims

1. A lid for disposable 'plastic' cups or beakers or other vessels, (which receptacles are commonly used by 'take-away' restaurants, snack booths and drink dispensers and the like), to which lid there is attached by means of a 'hinge' at one point on its circumference a plastic 'sleeve', such that when the lid and 'sleeve' are pulled apart and opened up - but still being attached by the 'hinge' - then the 'sleeve' may be placed underneath the cup or vessel and manipulated upwards, or indeed the sleeve may be manipulated downwards over the top of the plastic cup, beaker or vessel, and will then remain in situ firmly and snugly just underneath the top lip of the cup, beaker or vessel, and thus with the lid still attached to the 'sleeve' by the 'hinge', the lid will then remain attached to the cup, beaker or vessel and the lid may then be opened or closed at will over the top ofthe cup, beaker or vessel, and the lid will remain attached to the cup, beaker or vessel when disposed of.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid is 'hinged' to the 'sleeve' at least one point on its' circumference.

3. The lid of claiml, wherein the lid is 'hinged' to the 'sleeve' at one or more positions around its' circumference.

4. The lid in any proceedings claim wherein the lid includes a tab to aid the separation of the lid from the 'sleeve' or the subsequently opening or closing of the lid over the top of the cup, beaker or vessel.

5. A lid as in hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.