US20120080433A1

US20120080433A1 - Lid assembly for cup

Info

Publication number: US20120080433A1
Application number: US12/916,183
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Wen Chang
Original assignee: RICH CUP BIO-CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY Co Ltd
Current assignee: RICH CUP BIO-CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-01
Filing date: 2010-10-29
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Also published as: TWI412344B; TW201215355A

Abstract

A lid assembly of the present invention is used for clipping a rim flange of a cup. The lid assembly includes a lower member and an upper member. The lower member has a top clipping surface and several barbs. The upper member has a bottom clipping surface and at least a barb portion corresponding to the barbs. The barb portion is able to engage with the barbs. As such, the rim flange can be clipped between the top clipping surface and the bottom clipping surface.

Therefore, the lid assembly can be firmly assembled on a cup by clipping the rim flange, even though the specification of the cup is slightly changed. Moreover, the lid assembly can not be detached unpredictably.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lid assembly, more particularly to a lid assembly which is used for clipping a rim flange of a cup.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional lids are used for covering cups. Some lids are able to engage with rim flanges of the cups so as to be fixed on the cups.
However, producer who produces lids may meet a problem that a huge quantity of specifications must be followed. Each producer of the cups has his own specification. The standards for the size, the thickness, the height and the diameter of the rim flanges of cups are different from provider to provider. To fit the specific specifications of the suppliers, a large quantity of products and molds must be prepared. As a result, the cost of producing and storing are inevitably raised.
In addition, lids are sometimes not well secured with cups, so that lids may be detached from cups unpredictably. For instance, cups are softened when hot drink is contained therein. As a result, hot drinks may be splashed on people around since lids or cups fall out.
The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a lid which is able to be firmly engaged with a cup.
To achieve the above and other objects, a lid assembly is disclosed. The lid assembly of the present is used for clipping a rim flange of a cup. The lid assembly includes a lower member and an upper member.
The lower member includes an annular clipping portion and a holding portion. The holding portion stretches from the clipping portion. The clipping portion has a top clipping surface.
The upper member includes a bottom clipping surface. An outer contour of the bottom clipping surface is not smaller than an inner contour of the rim flange. The upper member is selectively fixed on the lower member, so that the top clipping surface and the bottom clipping surface are able to clip the rim flange therebetween.
The clipping portion is formed with plurality of barbs. The upper member comprises at least a barb portion. The barb portion is slidable with respect to the barbs when the upper member and the lower member move close to each other along an axis. The barb portion is able to engage with the barbs so as to prevent the upper member and the lower member move away from each other.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a combination drawing showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a profile showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a partial enlargement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a breakdown drawing showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3A for a first embodiment of the present invention. The lid assembly for a cup of the present embodiment is used for clipping a rim flange 2 of the cup 1. The lid assembly includes a lower member 10 and an upper member 20.
The lower member 10 includes an annular clipping portion 11 and a holding portion 12. The lower member 10 may further include plurality of upper pressing protrusions 13. The holding portion 12 stretches from the clipping portion 11. Preferably, the holding portion 12 is ring shaped. The holding portion 12 stretches downwardly from the clipping portion 11. In other possible embodiments of the present invention, the holding portion 12 may be formed in other suitable shapes for uses to grab. The clipping portion 11 has a top clipping surface 111, an outer side surface 112 and an inner side surface 113. The clipping portion 11 is formed with plurality of barbs 114 on the outer side surface 112. The inner side surface 113 is adapted for an outer surface of a cup body of the cup 1 to smoothly fit therewith. The upper pressing protrusions 13 are disposed upwardly on the top clipping surface 111. The upper pressing protrusions 13 are able to insert in a slit defined between the rim flange 2 and the cup body of the cup 1 when the top clipping surface 111 abuts against the rim flange 2. As such, the cup 1 can be further engaged with the lower member 10. Preferably, each upper pressing protrusion 13 has a height smaller than a height of the rim flange 2.
The upper member 20 includes at least a barb portion 21, a bottom clipping surface 22 and a lid layer 23. An outer contour of the bottom clipping surface 22 is not smaller than an inner contour of the rim flange 2. The upper member 20 is selectively fixed on the lower member 10, so that the top clipping surface 111 and the bottom clipping surface 22 are able to clip the rim flange 2 therebetween. More particularly, the barb portion 21 is slidable with respect to the barbs 114 when the upper member 20 and the lower member 10 move close to each other along an axis. The barb portion 21 is able to engage with the barbs 114 so as to prevent the upper member 20 and the lower member 10 move away from each other. The lid layer 23 substantially covers an opening of the cup 1. At least a hole 24 is defined by the lid layer 23. The hole 24 communicates with an inner space of the cup 1. In the present embodiment, a protruding portion 25 is disposed on an annular edge of the lid layer 23. The bottom clipping surface 22 is located on a bottom surface of the lid layer 23. However, the protruding portion 25 may be omitted in other possible embodiments. Moreover, the upper member 20 may further include several lower pressing protrusions 26. The lower pressing protrusions 26 are disposed on the bottom clipping surface 22. The lower pressing protrusions 26 are used for clamping an inner edge of the rim flange 2 so as to sustaining position of the upper member 20.
In the present embodiment above, the upper member 20 includes plurality of barb portions 21. The barb portions 21 are located on a periphery of the upper member 20 respectively. That is, the barb portions 21 are spaced apart from each other. Please refer to FIG. 4. In another embodiment of the present invention, the upper member 20 may have only one barb portion 21. The barb portion 21 is annularly located on a periphery of the upper member 20 substantially. Preferably, the upper member 20 is formed with plurality of splits 27 extending axially so as to enhance flexibility of the barb portion 21. As such, the barb portion 21 could slide with respect to the barbs 114 easily. In the present invention above, the barb portion 21 is located on an inner side surface of the upper member 20. The barbs 114 are located on an outer side surface of the lower member 10. Naturally, the barb portion 21 may be located on an outer side surface of the upper member 20, and the barbs 114 may be located on an inner side surface of the lower member 10 for the engagement purpose.
Accordingly, the lid assembly is assembled from two parts, the lower member and the upper member. By means of pressing and engaging, the upper member can be fixed on the lower member so as to firmly clipping the rim flange. As such, the strength of the engagement between the lid assembly and the cup is improved. Moreover, the rim flange is clutched as a gasket. Drinks can be hardly dropped out. Furthermore, the lid assembly can still be firmly engaged with the cup when the specification of the cup is slightly changed. Small tolerance of cups caused by manufacturing is also allowed.
In addition, the lid assembly can be provided for users to grab. Users may escape from scalding when hot drink is contained in the cup.

Claims

1. A lid assembly for a cup, the lid assembly being used for clipping a rim flange of the cup, the lid assembly comprising:

a lower member, comprising an annular clipping portion and a holding portion, the holding portion stretching from the clipping portion, the clipping portion having a top clipping surface;

an upper member, comprising a bottom clipping surface, an outer contour of the bottom clipping surface being not smaller than an inner contour of the rim flange, the upper member being selectively fixed on the lower member, so that the top clipping surface and the bottom clipping surface are able to clip the rim flange therebetween;

wherein the clipping portion is formed with plurality of barbs, the upper member comprises at least a barb portion, the barb portion is slidable with respect to the barbs when the upper member and the lower member move close to each other along an axis, the barb portion is able to engage with the barbs so as to prevent the upper member and the lower member move away from each other.

2. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the holding portion is ring shaped, the holding portion stretches downwardly from the clipping portion.

3. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper member further comprises a lid layer, the lid layer substantially covers an opening of the cup, a hole is defined by the lid layer, the hole communicates with an inner space of the cup.

4. The lid assembly of claim 3, wherein the bottom clipping surface is located on a bottom surface of the lid layer.

5. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper member further comprises plurality of lower pressing protrusions, the lower pressing protrusions are disposed on the bottom clipping surface, the lower pressing protrusions are used for clamping an inner edge of the rim flange.

6. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower member further comprises plurality of upper pressing protrusions, the upper pressing protrusions are disposed upwardly on the top clipping surface, the upper pressing protrusions are used for inserting in a slit defined between the rim flange and a cup body of the cup.

7. The lid assembly of claim 5, wherein the lower member further comprises plurality of upper pressing protrusions, the upper pressing protrusions are disposed upwardly on the top clipping surface, the upper pressing protrusions are used for inserting in a slit defined between the rim flange and a cup body of the cup.

8. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the clipping portion further comprises an inner side surface, the inner side surface is adapted for an outer surface of a cup body of the cup to smoothly fit therewith.

9. The lid assembly of claim 5, wherein the clipping portion further comprises an inner side surface, the inner side surface is adapted for an outer surface of a cup body of the cup to smoothly fit therewith.

10. The lid assembly of claim 6, wherein the clipping portion further comprises an inner side surface, the inner side surface is adapted for an outer surface of the cup body of the cup to smoothly fit therewith.

11. The lid assembly of claim 7, wherein the clipping portion further comprises an inner side surface, the inner side surface is adapted for an outer surface of the cup body of the cup to smoothly fit therewith.

12. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper member is formed with plurality of splits extending axially.

13. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper member comprises plurality of barb portions, the barb portions are located on a periphery of the upper member respectively.

14. The lid assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper member has only one barb portion, the barb portion is annularly located on a periphery of the upper member substantially.