JP2014508690A - Beverage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A beverage cup (30), an infusible substance used in the preparation of the beverage in a closed compartment in the cup (30), and a beverage passage lid (1) for the beverage cup (30). And a lid having a filter for filtering and removing the infusible substance from the beverage. The beverage passage lid (1) is a lid body (2), and when the lid (1) is on the beverage cup (30), the beverage (40) lids there for drinking beverages. (1) comprising a lid body having a beverage passage opening (5) defined in said lid body capable of exiting; The beverage passage opening (5) comprises a region of the lid (1) defined with at least 20 openings, the opening blocks the passage of the filtering substance (50) but drinks the beverage through the lid. It is big enough to make it possible.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage container, and specifically relates to a beverage container having a cup and a beverage passage lid on the cup. Of particular interest are disposable cups. In many cases, disposable cups are distributed with beverage sales, for example, in stores, aircraft, public places such as theaters, cinemas, and stadiums. The beverage is usually tea or coffee. Typically, the cup is designed as a takeaway disposable cup and its lid is to prevent liquid leakage during transport.

  There are many types of beverage containers. This includes containers designed for a variety of purposes, including those with lids and nozzles in the lid, through which liquids for drinking must be drawn. Such a configuration is typically used in infant cups, especially to avoid leakage.

  US Pat. No. 5,657,898 describes a drink-through lid for a beverage cup having a mechanism for suspending a tea bag by a drawstring that does not contact the liquid in the container. A similar system is described in US Pat. No. 7,806,044.

  U.S. Patent No. 6,076,450 discloses a beverage passage lid for a beverage cup having a pocket in which powdered coffee is placed. Above this pocket is an upper filter made of mesh and below it is a lower filter made of paper. Hot water is poured through the top of the lid, and thus through the upper mesh filter, through the coffee, then penetrates into the lower filter and enters the container. This configuration allows the coffee to brew into the hot water but prevents the particulate matter from entering the cup because it is retained in the lid.

  US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0035652 provides a disposable beverage passage lid with a filter screen. The filter is attached to the bottom surface of the lid and extends across the entire bottom surface of the lid so that all liquid is filtered before reaching the relatively large beverage opening on the lid.

  In general, such lids often spill while the user is drinking. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a lid that reduces the tendency to spill beverages when the user is drinking.

  Despite these prior arts, it would be desirable to provide a beverage container that allows for the preparation of a beverage from the infusible material in the container, and an alternative lid for the container.

In one aspect, the present invention provides
(A) a beverage cup;
(B) an infusible substance used to prepare a beverage in a closed compartment within the cup;
(C) a beverage passage lid for a beverage cup having a filter for filtering out infusible substances from the beverage;
A kit comprising:

  This provides a freshly prepared beverage, albeit in a disposable cup.

  The closed compartment may be closed with an airtight peelable member such as a peelable cover such as foil.

  This compartment may be a tab-type container inserted into the cup and is optionally sized to fit in the bottom of the cup. Desirably, the tab-type container has a tab opening connected to the bottom of the cup and extending to the inner wall of the cup and adjacent to the inner wall.

The beverage passage lid
A lid body;
A beverage passage opening defined in the lid body through which the beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on the beverage cup;
The beverage passage opening comprises a region of a lid defined with at least 20 openings, which prevent passage of filtered material from the beverage cup, but allow drinking through the lid. It is characterized by being sufficiently large.

  An advantage of the present invention is that the filter is associated with a beverage passage lid so that the beverage is filtered before it is drunk. This means that beverages prepared from insoluble materials such as tea leaves, powdered coffee, etc. can be made in beverage cups. After that, there is no need to worry about the particulate matter entering the mouth of the person who drinks the beverage using this beverage cup. This means that freshly prepared beverages, especially freshly prepared coffee, are possible. This eliminates the need to use items such as tea bags and coffee powder made from dried coffee (sometimes referred to as “instant coffee”). The filter is integrally formed as part of the lid. There is no need to attach additional components to the lid. Preferably, the lid is made of a plastic material. For example, a thermoforming process can be used. The opening can be formed when the lid is formed or in an opening forming process such as a subsequent punching process.

  The opening has a size and distribution sufficient to prevent a person drinking a beverage from this cup from applying substantial suction pressure to the cup to allow the beverage to enter the mouth through the lid. In this way, the lid is configured such that the user can drink the beverage through the lid at the same time that the lid filter filters the beverage.

  Desirably at least 40, preferably at least 50 openings are formed. In any case, the greater the number of openings, the more liquid can be consumed.

  Desirably, the beverage passage opening forms part of a mouthpiece through which a user drinks a beverage.

  Suitably, the area of the lid where the opening is provided comprises a visual indication to the user as to where to put his mouth. This is preferably a recessed area, so that an opening can be provided in the recessed area. It is desirable for the beverage passage opening to comprise a border frame around the recessed area. This again highlights the beverage passage opening.

  This border frame may also be provided with an opening that is sufficiently large to filter the beverage and prevent the passage of filtered material from the beverage container, but to allow the beverage to be drunk through the lid.

  The filtration material can be any insoluble material that is a component in the formation of a beverage, such as tea leaves. In such cases, the lid is configured to filter and remove tea leaf residues from tea leaves loosened within the beverage. Thus, it is possible to use fresh tea leaves and they can be used in a loose state, i.e. in a state where they can freely circulate in the beverage cup. There is no need for any other filter, filter, or any kind of trap for tea leaves.

  If the filter material is ground coffee, the lid is configured to filter out coffee residues from the ground coffee beans in the beverage cup. Again, no other means for capturing particulate matter is required.

The present invention also provides:
A lid body;
A beverage opening defined on the lid body through which the beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on the beverage cup;
A drinking rim on the beverage opening raised relative to the beverage opening; and
In drinking use, if the cup is held in the drinking position, the beverage can be seen by the user after leaving the beverage opening and before reaching the rim. The lid is characterized in that the lid is configured such that the beverage exits through the beverage opening and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim.

  Such a configuration is highly desirable because it significantly reduces the user's tendency to spill beverages. Specifically, when the beverage flows out from the lid, the user can visually recognize it, and therefore the user rarely spills the beverage. Especially in the case of conventional lids, it is usually impossible for the user to see it before drinking the liquid. This means that the user is more likely to miss some of the liquid and / or to pour too much of the liquid at a time and consequently spill out.

  Desirably, the beverage opening is formed in a region of the lid that is lower than the outer rim of the lid. Desirably, the wall-like portion of the drinking rim extends downward toward a lower position relative to the outer rim of the lid. This low position can be adjacent to the beverage opening and / or the opening can extend into the wall-like portion. If the beverage opening comprises a series of openings, one or more of the openings can be formed in the wall-like portion.

  This wall-like part forms a fluid bed along which the beverage flows in the drinking use towards the top of the drinking rim.

  Desirably, the lid further comprises a filter associated with the beverage opening for filtering the beverage before it is drunk. This means that the lid can be used when there are insoluble particles in the liquid, such as tea leaves or ground coffee.

  Desirably, both aspects of the present invention may be combined in one embodiment. This is because in the kit of the present invention, in the case of drinking use, when the cup is held in the position when drinking the beverage, the lid is on the cup, and the beverage is present in the cup, the beverage has an opening for drinking. After exiting and before reaching the rim, the lid is placed so that the beverage exits through the beverage opening and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim so that the user can see the beverage. The lid has a beverage passage opening defined in the lid body through which the beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on the beverage cup. In addition, the beverage passage opening comprises a region of a lid defined with at least 20 openings, which prevents passage of filtered material from the beverage but allows drinking of the beverage through the lid. Large enough to allow Means that may be characterized.

  Those skilled in the art will appreciate permutations of the number, shape, size, and distribution of apertures that can perform the aperture function of the present invention. The openings need not be uniform in size, shape, or distribution. For example, an opening having a diameter of 50 to 300 microns, such as an opening having a diameter of 75 to 275 microns, such as an opening having a diameter of 100 to 250 microns can be provided. In terms of number, there will usually be at least 50, for example 100, for example at least 150, typically about 200 openings in the lid. The distance between adjacent openings can be at least 2 microns, such as at least 6 microns, typically 10 microns. If the apertures used are not uniform in size / shape and / or if the distance between adjacent apertures is not uniform, these numbers may represent the average value of the apertures and / or distances. The filter can be composed of a material that allows the intermolecular force between the fluid and the opening to be sufficient to allow the fluid to pass through the opening when the cup is held in position when drinking. . For example, the material can be a nylon plastic material.

  The present invention includes an assembly formed when the kit of the present invention is combined. The present invention also provides a beverage cup assembly comprising a combined inventive kit.

  As mentioned above, the beverage cup comprises a sealed compartment in which the material used for the preparation of the beverage is retained and open to the use of the material during the preparation of the beverage. This keeps the contents of the cup fresh until use. The material used in the preparation of the beverage can be any material that leaves behind a solid residue that becomes the cup filtration material. The filtering substance can be, for example, tea leaves or powdered coffee.

The present invention also provides:
(A) providing a beverage cup;
(B) providing an infusible material for use in preparing a beverage in a closed compartment within the cup;
(C) opening the closed compartment;
(D) leaching a substance into a liquid to make a beverage;
(E) providing a beverage passage lid having a filter for filtering and removing infusible substances from the beverage on the beverage cup;
And a method for preparing a beverage comprising

  In the present method, the cup and lid can take the form of a kit of the present invention.

  In this method, the lid can incorporate a filter to form the lid with filtration function described above.

The beverage cup and lid can typically form together the beverage cup assembly of the present invention.

  In this way, the present invention can be pre-prepared and any “fresh”, although the cup and lid can be formed well before they are finally used. A beverage cup, particularly a disposable beverage cup, is provided. Thus, the present invention provides an assembly comprising the lid of the present invention, a beverage cup to which the lid fits, and a solid beverage material, such as tea leaves or powdered coffee, sealed within the cup. To do.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

It is a perspective view from the upper part of the drink passage lid of the kit of this invention provided with a drink passage opening. It is a perspective view from the downward direction of the drink passage lid of FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the lid | cover of FIG. 1 along the AA line. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1 showing an opening forming a beverage passage opening of the lid. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternative lid structure. FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of an alternative configuration of a beverage passage opening. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a combined kit with a pair of cups and lids. FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 8 showing the beverage in the cup. FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing a beverage being drunk from a cup by a user. FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an alternative beverage passage lid of the present invention with a beverage passage opening. It is a perspective view from the downward direction of the lid | cover of FIG. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of an alternative beverage passage lid of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the use on the cup of the lid | cover of FIGS. 10-12, and the drink drunk from a cup by a user.

  It should be noted that these drawings are schematic in nature and may not be to scale. For example, the number of openings 7 shown increases or decreases for illustrative purposes.

  1 and 2 show a beverage passage lid 1 for a beverage cup 30 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The lid 1 has a lid body 2. The beverage cup 30 and the lid 1 form the kit of the present invention. The lid body 2 is a single piece of plastic formed into a lid shape by a suitable molding process such as a thermoforming process. A beverage passage opening 5 is defined in the lid body 2, through which the beverage 40 (see FIG. 9) can exit the lid 1 for drinking when the lid is on the beverage cup 30. It is.

  This beverage passage opening 5 comprises a region 6 on the lid in which a number of openings 7 are defined, for example including at least 20 openings, for example at least 30 openings, at least 40 and 50 or more openings 7. Each of the openings 7 prevents the passage of the filtration substance 50 but is large enough to allow the beverage 40 to be drunk through the lid (the filtration substance 50 is present in the beverage and thus Removed from the beverage before the beverage is drunk). Filter material 50 is typically a solid insoluble material, often a material that has been subjected to leaching with hot water, such as powdered coffee or tea leaves.

  The lid includes a peripheral rim or skirt 9 adapted to provide a push-in seal at the top of the beverage cup 30 to form the assembly shown in FIGS.

  The lid 1 also forms a drinking rim 10 therein. The drinking rim 10 is raised with respect to the lid body and includes opposed upright walls, ie, an outer wall 11 and an inner wall 13 connected by an upper connecting wall 12. Like all other features of the lid, the drinking rim 10 is formed integrally with the lid 1.

  A further crescent shaped raised area 16 is also formed in the lid 1. A vent 20 is provided in the raised area 16 of the lid 1. A crescent-shaped wall 17 connects the raised area 16 and a recessed area 18 formed between the raised area 16 and the drinking rim 10.

  The lid 1 further includes an additional elongated spout 35 that extends through the lid 1 and allows for the addition of substances such as milk and sweeteners such as sugar to the beverage. The spout 35 is spaced from the opening 7 and extends sufficiently away from the lid (in the direction of the cup) so that the beverage does not leave the spout at the standard cup position for drinking. To do. The drop opening 35 can be sealed by a removable sealing material such as a seal. Since the drop opening 35 may not be open, it is desirable to provide the vent hole 20. It will be appreciated that the drop mouth 35 can function as a vent when open.

  To drink a beverage through the lid 1, the user places his lips on the lid so that his mouth is located around the area 6 and drinks liquid through the opening 7. Even if insoluble particulate matter is present in the beverage, they are retained in the cup 30 as filtration material by the filtration effect of the opening 7.

  FIG. 3 shows the beverage and air flow when the beverage is drunk. The arrow 22 shows how the beverage exits the lid through the opening 7. Arrows 23 indicate air that is aspirated by the movement of the outgoing beverage.

  FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the opening 7 defined on the lid 1. Any suitable arrangement of openings may be used, and this arrangement or opening does not have to have any particular shape. The plurality of openings need not all be the same size or shape.

  FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternative lid structure, specifically a different beverage passage opening structure. In FIG. 5, the lid 1 has a recessed area 6 in the form of an inverted nozzle 25 formed integrally therewith. An opening 7 is defined in the side wall 26 of the nozzle 25. Again, arrow 22 indicates the outflow of the beverage through a typical beverage passage opening structure. In other respects, the lid 1 has a structure similar to that shown in the previous drawings. FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the lid of FIG. 5, specifically, an enlarged sectional view of the inverted nozzle 25.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of an alternative configuration of a beverage passage opening, specifically an inverted nozzle 25 having an opening 7 that is of different shape and size and is defined therein. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly comprising a pair of cup 30 and lid 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 8 showing the beverage in the cup 30. In this embodiment, the cup 30 further comprises a compartment 60 in which a substance 50 such as powdered coffee or tea leaves is held. Typically, the compartment 60 is sealed and closed using a removable cover, such as a peelable foil. In use, the foil is peeled away to expose the material 50. This compartment is typically formed by a tab-type container that is inserted into the bottom of the cup. Hot water is added to make a beverage 40 that is a combination of hot water, ingredients extracted from the substance 50, and any additional ingredients that are actually added. The beverage is therefore fresh and will have the quality of freshly brewed tea or coffee. However, now the substance 50 has become loose and can move freely in the cup (as indicated by the arrow 51), in particular towards the beverage opening of the lid 1, so that the solid residue can be removed by the drinker. It is only the filtering action of the opening 7 that prevents it from reaching the mouth. This is best seen in FIG. 10, which is a view similar to FIG. 9, further illustrating a beverage 40 (see arrow 71) that is drunk from the cup by the user. The substance 50 that has now spread throughout the beverage is prevented from reaching the mouth of the user 70.

  11 and 12 are perspective views from above and below, respectively, of an alternative beverage passage lid of the present invention having a beverage passage opening, and FIG. 13 is a side sectional view thereof. The lid 1 is similar in structure to the previous embodiments but has some differences, which will now be described. Here, as best seen in FIG. 14, which is similar to the lid body 2 and FIG. 14, which is similar to FIG. 10 and has the lid 1 of the type shown in FIGS. Shown is a beverage cup lid 1 comprising a beverage opening 5 defined on the lid body 1 through which the beverage 40 exits the lid for drinking. The lid 1 has a drinking rim 10 raised above the beverage opening 5 on the lid. In this embodiment, the rim 10 forms a C-shaped edge that catches the beverage after it exits the lid 1. When the cup 1 is held in a drinking position for use in drinking, the lid 1 allows the user to visually recognize the beverage after leaving the beverage opening and before reaching the rim. The beverage 40 exits through the beverage opening 5 and is configured to flow along the lid toward the drinking rim. For ease of reference, in FIG. 14, the water surface of the beverage 40 that has come out of the cup 30 is labeled 73. Such a configuration is highly desirable because it significantly reduces the user's tendency to spill beverages. Specifically, when the beverage 40 flows out of the lid 1, the user 70 can visually recognize the beverage, specifically the water surface 73 of the beverage. Few.

  The wall-like part, in particular the inner wall 13 of the drinking rim 10, extends downwards towards a low position 45 relative to the outer rim 9 of the lid. This wall-like portion 13 forms the inner wall of the rim structure of the drinking rim 10 and therefore, in drinking use, as indicated by the arrow 46 (see FIG. 14) along which the beverage is placed on the upper portion 12 of the drinking rim. Form a fluidized bed or water channel that flows towards you. In this embodiment, the low position 45 is a position close to the beverage opening 5 by chance. This means that it is possible to check the water surface or “water level” of the beverage on the wall-like portion 13 even when the user places his lips around the drinking rim 10. To do.

  Desirably and as shown in this embodiment, the beverage opening is formed in a region of the lid 1 at a low position 45 relative to the outer rim 9 of the lid. This increases the area available for fluid bed formation and thus makes the liquid flow visually more noticeable to the user.

  As used herein, the terms “comprises / comprising” and “having / including” are used in reference to the present invention to describe the features, integers, steps or configurations described. Used to specify the presence of an element, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.

  It will be understood that some features of the invention described in the context of separate embodiments for clarity may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. On the contrary, the various features of the invention described in the context of a single embodiment for the sake of brevity may be provided individually or in any appropriate subcombination.

Claims (20)

A beverage passage lid for a beverage cup,
a. A lid body;
b. A beverage passage opening defined in the lid body through which the beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on the beverage cup;
c. The beverage passage opening comprises a region of the lid defined with at least 20 openings, the opening preventing passage of filtration material but sufficient to allow a beverage to be drink through the lid. A beverage passage lid for a beverage cup, characterized in that it is sized.   2. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with at least 40, preferably at least 50 openings.   The lid according to claim 1, wherein the area of the lid provided with the opening comprises a recessed area.   The lid according to claim 3, wherein the beverage passage opening comprises a border frame around the recessed area.   The lid of claim 4, wherein the border frame comprises an opening that is large enough to prevent passage of filtered material from the beverage, but to allow the beverage to be drunk through the lid.   6. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filtration material is tea leaves and the lid is configured to filter and remove tea leaf residues from loose tea leaves in the beverage cup. Lid.   7. The filter of any of claims 1-6, wherein the filtering material is powdered coffee and the lid is configured to filter and remove coffee residues from loose powdered coffee beans in the beverage cup. The lid according to claim 1. A lid for a drinking cup,
a. A lid body;
b. A beverage opening defined on the lid body through which the beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on the beverage cup;
c. A drinking rim on the lid raised with respect to the beverage opening;
d. In drinking use, when the cup is held in the position for drinking, after the beverage exits the beverage opening, the user visually recognizes the beverage before reaching the rim. The lid is configured to allow the beverage to exit through the beverage opening and to flow along the lid toward the drinking rim.   9. The lid of claim 8, further comprising a filter associated with the beverage opening for filtering the beverage before it is drunk.   10. Lid according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the lid is as defined in any one of claims 1-7. a. A drinking cup,
b. An infusible substance used to prepare a beverage in a closed compartment in the cup;
c. A beverage passage lid for the beverage cup, the beverage passage lid having a filter for filtering and removing infusible substances from the beverage;
A kit comprising:   The kit of claim 11, wherein the closed compartment is closed with an airtight peelable member.   13. Kit according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the compartment comprises a tab-type container inserted into the cup.   The kit according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the tab-type container is dimensioned to fit in a bottom of the cup.   The kit according to claim 14, wherein the tab-shaped container has a tab opening that extends to the inner wall of the cup and is adjacent to the inner wall.   The kit of any one of Claims 11-15 provided with the lid | cover of any one of Claims 1-10.   The kit according to claim 16, wherein the infusible substance used for preparing a beverage is tea leaves or powdered coffee.   16. An assembly comprising a combined kit according to any one of claims 11 to 15 having a lid according to any one of claims 1 to 10 on a cup. a. Providing a beverage cup;
b. Providing an infusible material for use in preparing a beverage in a closed compartment within the cup;
c. Opening the closed compartment;
d. Leaching the substance into a liquid to make the beverage;
e. Providing a beverage passage lid having a filter for filtering and removing infusible substances from the beverage on the beverage cup;
A method for preparing a beverage comprising   20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the cup and lid take the form of a kit according to any one of claims 11-17.

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