US20090308882A1 - Straw-Receptive Drink-Through Cup Lid - Google Patents
Straw-Receptive Drink-Through Cup Lid Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090308882A1 US20090308882A1 US12/139,275 US13927508A US2009308882A1 US 20090308882 A1 US20090308882 A1 US 20090308882A1 US 13927508 A US13927508 A US 13927508A US 2009308882 A1 US2009308882 A1 US 2009308882A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lid
- drinking
- drinking opening
- spout portion
- cup
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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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
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
- B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
- B65D47/2031—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure
-
- 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
- B65D2231/00—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents
- B65D2231/02—Precut holes or weakened zones
- B65D2231/022—Precut holes or weakened zones for permitting the insertion of a tubular contents-removing device, e.g. a drinking straw
-
- 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
- B65D2543/00444—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
- B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
- B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
- B65D2543/00722—Profiles
- B65D2543/00731—Groove or hollow 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
- a lid that is adapted to receive a straw.
- Smaller children tend to prefer a “sippy” lid.
- a lid which is commonly used with a so-called “sippy cup,” typically includes a raised spout portion through which the toddler can drink by sucking on the raised spout portion.
- An example of such a sippy lid is the “HEFTY ZOO PALS sip-style lid,” which is provided by Pactiv Corporation.
- beverage distributors may be required to regularly stock two different types of lids—straw-receptive lids and sippy lids. It would be desirable, therefore, especially for provision to young children who may be transitioning from sippy lids to straw-receptive lids, if a single lid could be used as both a sippy lid and as a straw-receptive lid.
- a cup lid may include a central cover portion, a skirt peripheral to the central cover portion, and a raised spout portion extending from the central cover portion.
- the raised spout portion may define a drinking opening.
- the drinking opening may have a circular perimeter.
- the lid may be adapted to allow liquid to flow through the drinking opening in response to a sucking force applied to the raised spout portion, and to receive a drinking straw through the drinking opening.
- the spout portion may define a plurality of flaps disposed about the drinking opening.
- the flaps may define the perimeter of the drinking opening.
- the spout portion may define a plurality of slots extending from the perimeter of the drinking opening.
- the flaps may be defined between respective pairs of slots that extend from the perimeter of the drinking opening.
- the drinking opening may be adapted to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion.
- the flaps may be configured to deflect in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion or in response to a force applied by a straw inserted into the drinking opening.
- the skirt may be adapted to matingly engage an upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup so as to removably maintain the lid in a covering relationship on the cup.
- the lid may be a single-piece lid formed of a thermoplastic material.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of an example straw-receptive drink-through cup lid.
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the raised spout portion of the cup lid depicted in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of the cup lid depicted in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5 is another partial cutaway view of the cup lid depicted in FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 1 and 2 are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of an example straw-receptive drink-through cup lid 10 .
- the lid 10 may be made of a thermoplastic material, such as a polystyrene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example.
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- the lid 10 may be manufactured using conventional vacuum-forming and die-cutting techniques.
- the lid 10 may be formed as a single-piece lid.
- the lid 10 may include a central cover portion 20 and a rim-engaging portion 30 .
- a raised spout portion 50 may extend from the central cover portion 20 .
- the lid 10 may include a ridge 40 that extends from the top portion 22 of the central cover portion 20 .
- the ridge 40 may be semi-annular, and include a top portion 42 , a front wall 44 , and a rear wall 46 .
- the spout portion 50 may extend from the top portion 42 of the ridge 40 .
- the lid 10 may not include such a ridge, in which case the raised spout portion 50 may extend directly from the top portion 22 of the central cover portion 20 .
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a spout portion 50 .
- the spout portion 50 may define a drinking opening 60 .
- the drinking opening 60 may be circular. That is, the drinking opening 60 may have a circular perimeter 62 .
- the spout portion 50 may define a plurality of flaps 66 disposed about the drinking opening 60 .
- the flaps 66 may define the perimeter 62 of the drinking opening 60 .
- the spout portion 50 may define a plurality of slots 64 extending from the perimeter of the drinking opening 60 .
- Each of the slots 64 may be defined between a respective pair of adjacent flaps 66 .
- each flap 66 may be defined between a respective pair of adjacent slots 64 .
- the slots 64 may extend all of the way through the lid 10 , or they may be “scored” into the lid. In other words, the slots may extend into the lid only to a depth that is adapted to break all of the way through the lid 10 under the insertion force of a typical straw.
- the slots 64 and flaps 66 may be arranged circumferentially around the perimeter 62 of the drinking opening 60 .
- the combination of drinking opening 60 , slots 64 , and flaps 66 maybe configured to cooperate to receive a straw (not shown) having a typical outer diameter.
- the flaps 66 may be configured to exert a retaining force on a straw received through the drinking opening 60 .
- the diameter D 2 of the drinking opening 60 may be less than the outer diameter of a typical straw that is expected to be received into the drinking opening 60 .
- the drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow for different possible rates of beverage removal via sucking or different degrees of allowable spillage, say when the cup is knocked over.
- the diameter D 2 of the drinking opening 60 may be chosen to allow, or prevent, the flow of liquid therethrough under certain conditions.
- the drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion 50 .
- the drinking opening 60 may be sufficiently large to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to such a sucking force.
- the drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough even in the absence of such a sucking force.
- the drinking opening 60 may be sufficiently large that liquid may be allowed to flow therethrough even in the absence of such a sucking force.
- the drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough only in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion 50 .
- the drinking opening 60 may be sufficiently small to prevent liquid from flowing therethrough in the absence of such a sucking force, yet sufficiently large to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to such a sucking force.
- the flaps 66 may be configured to deflect in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion 50 .
- the flaps 66 may be configured to deflect in response to a force applied by a straw inserted into the drinking opening 60 .
- the raised spout portion 50 may be adapted to allow liquid to flow through the drinking opening 60 in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion 50 , and to receive a drinking straw through the drinking opening 60 .
- the spout portion 50 may define an outer perimeter 52 , a recess 54 , and a recess perimeter 56 .
- the drinking opening 60 may be located at or near the center of the bottom of the recess 54 , or the drinking opening 60 may be located off-center relative to the recess 54 .
- the drinking opening 60 may extend through the lid 10 from a top side to an underside.
- the slots 64 may extend outwardly from the perimeter 62 of the drinking opening 60 , toward the recess perimeter 56 .
- the central cover portion 20 may define a vent hole 24 in a top portion 22 thereof.
- the presence and diameter D V of the vent hole 24 may affect the sucking force required to create enough of a pressure differential between the inside of the cup and the inside of a user's mouth to remove a beverage, either when the cup lid 10 is used as a sippy lid or as a straw-receptive lid.
- the rim-engaging portion 30 may include an annular groove 32 and a circumferential, downwardly-depending, flared skirt 34 peripheral to the central cover portion 20 .
- the skirt 34 may be configured to engage a drinking cup (not shown).
- the skirt 34 may be adapted to matingly engage an upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup so as to removably maintain the lid 10 in a covering relationship on the cup.
- the rim-engaging portion 30 may be adapted to engage the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup (not shown) on which the lid 10 is mounted, and thus to retain the lid 10 on the drinking cup.
- the coupling of the lid 10 to a drinking cup may be accomplished by adapting the inside diameter of the annular groove 32 to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup.
- the inwardly-directed bead formed complementarily to the groove 32 may be readily applied to, and removed from, a drinking cup several times without damage to either the cup or the lid.
- the groove 32 and complementary bead may be continuous.
- the annular groove 32 may be adapted to retainably engage the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup.
- the groove 32 may be continuous around a periphery of the skirt 34 .
- the lid 10 may be coupled to a drinking cup by placing lid 10 over the opening of the cup and pressing downward on lid 10 .
- the downward force of the inside of the annular groove 32 against the outside of the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup may force the annular groove 32 to temporarily deflect outward and the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup to temporarily deflect inward.
- the annular groove 32 may deflect back inward, and it may be located underneath the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup, which may deflect back outward.
- the inner diameter of the annular groove 32 may remain slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup, so that a retention force acts to keep the lid 10 on the top of the drinking cup.
- the lid 10 may be removed by exerting an upward force onto the skirt 34 , which may force the annular groove 32 to temporarily deflect outwardly and the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup to temporarily deflect inwardly, thereby allowing disengagement of the lid 10 from the drinking cup.
- a user's lips may be applied to the outer perimeter 52 of the spout portion 50 .
- the outer perimeter 52 may be rectangular.
- the recess 54 may define a depression in the raised spout portion 50 .
- the perimeter 56 of the recess 54 may be a flattened oval shape, comprising two semi-circles separated by two line segments.
- the upper edge of the recess 54 may be rounded or may define an angle ⁇ relative to the lower edge of the recess 54 .
- the recess perimeter 56 may vary in circumference (or other dimensional measures) from the top to the bottom of the recess 54 .
- the recess perimeter 56 may be longer and wider (having a greater circumscribed internal area) at the top edge than at the bottom edge.
- the outer perimeter 52 of the spout portion 50 may be adapted to be received comfortably between an average toddler's lips, with a user's lips able to create a seal around the outer perimeter 52 to allow a beverage to be sucked or poured into a user's mouth without leaking out of the mouth.
- the lid 10 may be formed from a sheet of a thermoplastic material having a thickness that is between about 0.01′′ and 0.02′′.
- the lid 10 may have an overall diameter D 1 of between about 3′′ and 5′′, and an overall height H 1 of about 0.75′′.
- the vent hole 24 may have a diameter D V of about 0.1′′.
- the drinking opening 60 may have a diameter D 2 of about 0.125′′.
- the recess 54 in the raised spout portion 50 may have a length L R of about 0.517′′, a width W R of about 0.340′′, and a height H R of about 0.1′′.
- Each slot 64 may have a width W S of about 0.1′′ and a length L S of about 0.125′′.
- the lid 10 may include four, radially extending slots 64 , with a ninety (90) degree separation angle ⁇ between adjacent slots.
- the lid 10 may include four flaps 66 .
- the rim-engaging portion 30 may have a height H 2 of about 0.320′′.
- the drink-through lid 10 may be snap-mounted onto a complementary drinking cup (not shown), with the annular groove 32 of the lid engaging the upper peripheral edge of the cup. With the lid 10 properly engaging the cup, there are at least two ways in which a user may drink from the cup.
- the user may raise the cup to his mouth, and begin tilting the cup relative to his mouth so that the outer perimeter 52 of the raised spout portion 50 moves into engagement with the user's lips.
- the upper lip and lower lip of the user may contact and rest around outer perimeter 52 , preferably creating a seal that will prevent the beverage from leaking out of the user's mouth during drinking.
- the liquid may flow freely through the drinking opening 60 into the mouth of the user. The user may suck the beverage through the drinking opening 60 .
- the user may push one end of a straw through the plurality of slots 64 and the plurality of flaps 66 .
- the force applied to the flaps 66 by the user, via an end of the straw may deflect the portion of the flaps 66 that are closest to the perimeter 62 of the drinking opening 60 inwardly (i.e., toward the interior of the cup).
- the flaps 66 may have sufficient resilience such that they yield to the force of the straw as it's being inserted, and yet exert a retention force against the inserted straw. Then, the user may draw the beverage out of the drinking opening 60 via the straw.
- the flaps 66 may be permanently (that is, plasticly) deformed upon insertion of the straw.
Abstract
Description
- This application is related to U.S. design patent application no. (attorney docket WINC-0118, entitled “Straw-Receptive Drink-Through Cup Lid”), filed on even date herewith, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
- Fast food restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, and the like, often distribute beverages to consumers in disposable, lid-covered, drinking cups. Older children and adults generally prefer a lid that is adapted to receive a straw. Smaller children, however, tend to prefer a “sippy” lid. Such a lid, which is commonly used with a so-called “sippy cup,” typically includes a raised spout portion through which the toddler can drink by sucking on the raised spout portion. An example of such a sippy lid is the “HEFTY ZOO PALS sip-style lid,” which is provided by Pactiv Corporation.
- Consequently, such beverage distributors may be required to regularly stock two different types of lids—straw-receptive lids and sippy lids. It would be desirable, therefore, especially for provision to young children who may be transitioning from sippy lids to straw-receptive lids, if a single lid could be used as both a sippy lid and as a straw-receptive lid.
- As described herein, a cup lid may include a central cover portion, a skirt peripheral to the central cover portion, and a raised spout portion extending from the central cover portion. The raised spout portion may define a drinking opening. The drinking opening may have a circular perimeter. The lid may be adapted to allow liquid to flow through the drinking opening in response to a sucking force applied to the raised spout portion, and to receive a drinking straw through the drinking opening.
- The spout portion may define a plurality of flaps disposed about the drinking opening. The flaps may define the perimeter of the drinking opening. The spout portion may define a plurality of slots extending from the perimeter of the drinking opening. The flaps may be defined between respective pairs of slots that extend from the perimeter of the drinking opening.
- The drinking opening may be adapted to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion. The flaps may be configured to deflect in response to a sucking force applied to the spout portion or in response to a force applied by a straw inserted into the drinking opening. The skirt may be adapted to matingly engage an upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup so as to removably maintain the lid in a covering relationship on the cup. The lid may be a single-piece lid formed of a thermoplastic material.
-
FIGS. 1 and 2 are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of an example straw-receptive drink-through cup lid. -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the raised spout portion of the cup lid depicted inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of the cup lid depicted inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 is another partial cutaway view of the cup lid depicted inFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 1 and 2 are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of an example straw-receptive drink-throughcup lid 10. Thelid 10 may be made of a thermoplastic material, such as a polystyrene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example. Thelid 10 may be manufactured using conventional vacuum-forming and die-cutting techniques. Thelid 10 may be formed as a single-piece lid. - As shown, the
lid 10 may include acentral cover portion 20 and a rim-engaging portion 30. A raisedspout portion 50 may extend from thecentral cover portion 20. Thelid 10 may include aridge 40 that extends from thetop portion 22 of thecentral cover portion 20. Theridge 40 may be semi-annular, and include atop portion 42, afront wall 44, and arear wall 46. Thespout portion 50 may extend from thetop portion 42 of theridge 40. Thelid 10 may not include such a ridge, in which case the raisedspout portion 50 may extend directly from thetop portion 22 of thecentral cover portion 20. -
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of aspout portion 50. Thespout portion 50 may define a drinking opening 60. The drinking opening 60 may be circular. That is, the drinking opening 60 may have acircular perimeter 62. Thespout portion 50 may define a plurality offlaps 66 disposed about the drinking opening 60. Theflaps 66 may define theperimeter 62 of the drinking opening 60. - The
spout portion 50 may define a plurality ofslots 64 extending from the perimeter of the drinking opening 60. Each of theslots 64 may be defined between a respective pair ofadjacent flaps 66. Conversely, eachflap 66 may be defined between a respective pair ofadjacent slots 64. Theslots 64 may extend all of the way through thelid 10, or they may be “scored” into the lid. In other words, the slots may extend into the lid only to a depth that is adapted to break all of the way through thelid 10 under the insertion force of a typical straw. - The
slots 64 andflaps 66 may be arranged circumferentially around theperimeter 62 of the drinking opening 60. The combination of drinking opening 60,slots 64, andflaps 66 maybe configured to cooperate to receive a straw (not shown) having a typical outer diameter. Theflaps 66 may be configured to exert a retaining force on a straw received through the drinking opening 60. The diameter D2 of the drinking opening 60 may be less than the outer diameter of a typical straw that is expected to be received into the drinking opening 60. - The
drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow for different possible rates of beverage removal via sucking or different degrees of allowable spillage, say when the cup is knocked over. The diameter D2 of thedrinking opening 60 may be chosen to allow, or prevent, the flow of liquid therethrough under certain conditions. - For example, the
drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to a sucking force applied to thespout portion 50. In which case, the drinking opening 60 may be sufficiently large to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to such a sucking force. - It should be understood that the
drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough even in the absence of such a sucking force. For example, thedrinking opening 60 may be sufficiently large that liquid may be allowed to flow therethrough even in the absence of such a sucking force. - It should also be understood that the
drinking opening 60 may be configured to allow liquid to flow therethrough only in response to a sucking force applied to thespout portion 50. For example, the drinking opening 60 may be sufficiently small to prevent liquid from flowing therethrough in the absence of such a sucking force, yet sufficiently large to allow liquid to flow therethrough in response to such a sucking force. - The
flaps 66 may be configured to deflect in response to a sucking force applied to thespout portion 50. Theflaps 66 may be configured to deflect in response to a force applied by a straw inserted into thedrinking opening 60. Thus, the raisedspout portion 50 may be adapted to allow liquid to flow through the drinking opening 60 in response to a sucking force applied to thespout portion 50, and to receive a drinking straw through the drinking opening 60. - The
spout portion 50 may define anouter perimeter 52, arecess 54, and arecess perimeter 56. Thedrinking opening 60 may be located at or near the center of the bottom of therecess 54, or thedrinking opening 60 may be located off-center relative to therecess 54. Thedrinking opening 60 may extend through thelid 10 from a top side to an underside. Theslots 64 may extend outwardly from theperimeter 62 of thedrinking opening 60, toward therecess perimeter 56. - The
central cover portion 20 may define avent hole 24 in atop portion 22 thereof. The presence and diameter DV of thevent hole 24 may affect the sucking force required to create enough of a pressure differential between the inside of the cup and the inside of a user's mouth to remove a beverage, either when thecup lid 10 is used as a sippy lid or as a straw-receptive lid. - The rim-engaging
portion 30 may include anannular groove 32 and a circumferential, downwardly-depending, flaredskirt 34 peripheral to thecentral cover portion 20. Theskirt 34 may be configured to engage a drinking cup (not shown). For example, theskirt 34 may be adapted to matingly engage an upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup so as to removably maintain thelid 10 in a covering relationship on the cup. - The rim-engaging
portion 30 may be adapted to engage the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup (not shown) on which thelid 10 is mounted, and thus to retain thelid 10 on the drinking cup. The coupling of thelid 10 to a drinking cup may be accomplished by adapting the inside diameter of theannular groove 32 to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup. The inwardly-directed bead formed complementarily to thegroove 32 may be readily applied to, and removed from, a drinking cup several times without damage to either the cup or the lid. Thegroove 32 and complementary bead may be continuous. Theannular groove 32 may be adapted to retainably engage the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup. Thegroove 32 may be continuous around a periphery of theskirt 34. - The
lid 10 may be coupled to a drinking cup by placinglid 10 over the opening of the cup and pressing downward onlid 10. The downward force of the inside of theannular groove 32 against the outside of the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup may force theannular groove 32 to temporarily deflect outward and the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup to temporarily deflect inward. Once thelid 10 is properly engaged or “snapped” onto the drinking cup, theannular groove 32 may deflect back inward, and it may be located underneath the upper peripheral edge of a drinking cup, which may deflect back outward. In the engaged state, the inner diameter of theannular groove 32 may remain slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup, so that a retention force acts to keep thelid 10 on the top of the drinking cup. - The
lid 10 may be removed by exerting an upward force onto theskirt 34, which may force theannular groove 32 to temporarily deflect outwardly and the upper peripheral edge of the drinking cup to temporarily deflect inwardly, thereby allowing disengagement of thelid 10 from the drinking cup. - To draw a beverage out of the drinking cup in a sippy-style drinking scenario, a user's lips may be applied to the
outer perimeter 52 of thespout portion 50. Theouter perimeter 52 may be rectangular. - The
recess 54 may define a depression in the raisedspout portion 50. Theperimeter 56 of therecess 54 may be a flattened oval shape, comprising two semi-circles separated by two line segments. The upper edge of therecess 54 may be rounded or may define an angle β relative to the lower edge of therecess 54. Therecess perimeter 56 may vary in circumference (or other dimensional measures) from the top to the bottom of therecess 54. For example, therecess perimeter 56 may be longer and wider (having a greater circumscribed internal area) at the top edge than at the bottom edge. Theouter perimeter 52 of thespout portion 50 may be adapted to be received comfortably between an average toddler's lips, with a user's lips able to create a seal around theouter perimeter 52 to allow a beverage to be sucked or poured into a user's mouth without leaking out of the mouth. - The
lid 10 may be formed from a sheet of a thermoplastic material having a thickness that is between about 0.01″ and 0.02″. Thelid 10 may have an overall diameter D1 of between about 3″ and 5″, and an overall height H1 of about 0.75″. Thevent hole 24 may have a diameter DV of about 0.1″. Thedrinking opening 60 may have a diameter D2 of about 0.125″. Therecess 54 in the raisedspout portion 50 may have a length LR of about 0.517″, a width WR of about 0.340″, and a height HR of about 0.1″. Eachslot 64 may have a width WS of about 0.1″ and a length LS of about 0.125″. Thelid 10 may include four, radially extendingslots 64, with a ninety (90) degree separation angle α between adjacent slots. Thelid 10 may include fourflaps 66. The rim-engagingportion 30 may have a height H2 of about 0.320″. - In operation, the drink-through
lid 10 may be snap-mounted onto a complementary drinking cup (not shown), with theannular groove 32 of the lid engaging the upper peripheral edge of the cup. With thelid 10 properly engaging the cup, there are at least two ways in which a user may drink from the cup. - In a first sippy-style, strawless drinking scenario, the user may raise the cup to his mouth, and begin tilting the cup relative to his mouth so that the
outer perimeter 52 of the raisedspout portion 50 moves into engagement with the user's lips. In this position, the upper lip and lower lip of the user may contact and rest aroundouter perimeter 52, preferably creating a seal that will prevent the beverage from leaking out of the user's mouth during drinking. Depending on the size of thedrinking opening 60 and the viscosity of the liquid contained in the cup, the liquid may flow freely through thedrinking opening 60 into the mouth of the user. The user may suck the beverage through thedrinking opening 60. - In a second, straw-reception drinking scenario, the user may push one end of a straw through the plurality of
slots 64 and the plurality offlaps 66. The force applied to theflaps 66 by the user, via an end of the straw, may deflect the portion of theflaps 66 that are closest to theperimeter 62 of thedrinking opening 60 inwardly (i.e., toward the interior of the cup). Theflaps 66 may have sufficient resilience such that they yield to the force of the straw as it's being inserted, and yet exert a retention force against the inserted straw. Then, the user may draw the beverage out of thedrinking opening 60 via the straw. Where thelid 10 is intended for a single-use application, theflaps 66 may be permanently (that is, plasticly) deformed upon insertion of the straw.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/139,275 US20090308882A1 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2008-06-13 | Straw-Receptive Drink-Through Cup Lid |
PCT/US2009/042297 WO2009151812A1 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2009-04-30 | Straw-receptive drink-through cup lid |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/139,275 US20090308882A1 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2008-06-13 | Straw-Receptive Drink-Through Cup Lid |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090308882A1 true US20090308882A1 (en) | 2009-12-17 |
Family
ID=40716797
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/139,275 Abandoned US20090308882A1 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2008-06-13 | Straw-Receptive Drink-Through Cup Lid |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090308882A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009151812A1 (en) |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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WO2014014844A1 (en) * | 2012-07-17 | 2014-01-23 | Crudgington Cleveland Benedict | Spill resistant disposable travel cup lid |
US9034231B2 (en) | 2011-04-14 | 2015-05-19 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Cup lid |
USD752436S1 (en) | 2014-07-24 | 2016-03-29 | Cleveland B. Crudgington | Disposable cup lid |
US9452867B2 (en) | 2012-04-24 | 2016-09-27 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
US20170112306A1 (en) * | 2012-02-08 | 2017-04-27 | Brockett Muir, III | Anti-Spill Disposable Drink Through Cup Lid |
US9814334B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2017-11-14 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
US9833960B2 (en) | 2012-07-17 | 2017-12-05 | Cleveland Benedict Crudgington | Spill resistant disposable travel cup lid |
US11040499B2 (en) | 2017-08-07 | 2021-06-22 | Berry Global, Inc. | Method and apparatus for thermoforming an article |
US11234542B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2022-02-01 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
USD945264S1 (en) | 2019-08-15 | 2022-03-08 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
US11350784B2 (en) | 2018-03-22 | 2022-06-07 | Bedford Systems Llc | Puncture mechanism for beverage machine |
US11433591B2 (en) | 2019-02-06 | 2022-09-06 | Berry Global, Inc. | Process of forming polymeric material |
US11548701B2 (en) | 2017-04-07 | 2023-01-10 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
USD976105S1 (en) | 2018-08-10 | 2023-01-24 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
US11603304B2 (en) | 2018-03-22 | 2023-03-14 | Bedford Systems Llc | Pod assembly for beverage machine |
USD984894S1 (en) | 2019-03-05 | 2023-05-02 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
US11643269B2 (en) * | 2016-12-01 | 2023-05-09 | Bedford Systems, LLC | Container and opening arrangement for beverage production |
US11891488B2 (en) | 2019-02-06 | 2024-02-06 | Berry Global, Inc. | Polypropylene sheets and articles |
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Cited By (28)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US9034231B2 (en) | 2011-04-14 | 2015-05-19 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Cup lid |
US9730540B2 (en) | 2011-04-14 | 2017-08-15 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Cup lid |
US10477996B2 (en) * | 2012-02-08 | 2019-11-19 | Brockett Muir, III | Anti-spill disposable drink through cup lid |
US20170112306A1 (en) * | 2012-02-08 | 2017-04-27 | Brockett Muir, III | Anti-Spill Disposable Drink Through Cup Lid |
US9452867B2 (en) | 2012-04-24 | 2016-09-27 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
EP2874896A4 (en) * | 2012-07-17 | 2015-12-16 | Cleveland Benedict Crudgington | Spill resistant disposable travel cup lid |
US9833960B2 (en) | 2012-07-17 | 2017-12-05 | Cleveland Benedict Crudgington | Spill resistant disposable travel cup lid |
CN104411595A (en) * | 2012-07-17 | 2015-03-11 | 克利夫兰·贝内迪克特·克鲁德金顿 | Spill resistant disposable travel cup lid |
WO2014014844A1 (en) * | 2012-07-17 | 2014-01-23 | Crudgington Cleveland Benedict | Spill resistant disposable travel cup lid |
US11234542B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2022-02-01 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
USD752436S1 (en) | 2014-07-24 | 2016-03-29 | Cleveland B. Crudgington | Disposable cup lid |
US9814334B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2017-11-14 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
US10201241B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2019-02-12 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
US11643269B2 (en) * | 2016-12-01 | 2023-05-09 | Bedford Systems, LLC | Container and opening arrangement for beverage production |
US11548701B2 (en) | 2017-04-07 | 2023-01-10 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
US11702258B2 (en) | 2017-04-07 | 2023-07-18 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup lid |
US11667090B2 (en) | 2017-08-07 | 2023-06-06 | Berry Global, Inc. | Method and apparatus for thermoforming an article |
US11040499B2 (en) | 2017-08-07 | 2021-06-22 | Berry Global, Inc. | Method and apparatus for thermoforming an article |
US11350784B2 (en) | 2018-03-22 | 2022-06-07 | Bedford Systems Llc | Puncture mechanism for beverage machine |
US11603304B2 (en) | 2018-03-22 | 2023-03-14 | Bedford Systems Llc | Pod assembly for beverage machine |
USD993770S1 (en) | 2018-08-10 | 2023-08-01 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
USD976105S1 (en) | 2018-08-10 | 2023-01-24 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
US11679542B2 (en) | 2019-02-06 | 2023-06-20 | Berry Global, Inc. | Process of forming polymeric material |
US11433591B2 (en) | 2019-02-06 | 2022-09-06 | Berry Global, Inc. | Process of forming polymeric material |
US11891488B2 (en) | 2019-02-06 | 2024-02-06 | Berry Global, Inc. | Polypropylene sheets and articles |
USD984894S1 (en) | 2019-03-05 | 2023-05-02 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
USD993771S1 (en) | 2019-03-05 | 2023-08-01 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
USD945264S1 (en) | 2019-08-15 | 2022-03-08 | Berry Global, Inc. | Drink cup lid |
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WO2009151812A1 (en) | 2009-12-17 |
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Owner name: NEW WINCUP HOLDINGS, INC., GEORGIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HUNDLEY, BOBBY V.;REEL/FRAME:022154/0639 Effective date: 20090122 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
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Owner name: NEW WINCUP HOLDINGS, INC., GEORGIA Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 25317/0135;ASSIGNOR:WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, AS AGENT (NOW KNOWN AS WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC);REEL/FRAME:054173/0299 Effective date: 20200908 |