US3283939A

US3283939A - Vented lids for hot drink cups

Info

Publication number: US3283939A
Application number: US410866A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Miller
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1961-04-10
Filing date: 1964-11-13
Publication date: 1966-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-08

Description

Nov. 8, 1966 w. L. MILLER 3,

VENTED LIDS FOR HOT DRINK CUPS Original Filed April 10, 1961 41 W H qr INVENTOR WILLIAM L. MiLLEE.

United States Patent 3,283,939 VENTED LIDS FOR HOT DRINK CUPS William L. Miller, Skokie, 11]., assignor to Continental Can Company, ind, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,979, now

Patent No. 3,193,130, dated July 6, 1965. Divided and this application Nov. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 410,866

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-44) This application constitutes a division of my copending commonly assigned application for US. Letters Patent, Serial No. 101,979, filed April 10, 1961 and now Patent No. 3,193,130.

This invention relates generally to closures for beverage containers, and more particularly seeks to provide an improved closure for cups in which hot beverages such as coffee are packaged for carry-out sales.

When a paper cup or other container is filled with a hot beverage, such as coffee or the like, and capped with a lid or closure of paper or plastic or combinations therewherein provision is made for permitting escape of vapor to the atmosphere while hiding unsightly markings on the closure brought about by liquid seepage, and also preventing objectionable out-spilling of liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of the character stated wherein attaching media are provided by which attachment to a cup or other container may be effected, a floor, surrounding bead and cover means are provided cooperating in the provision of a vapor and liquid seepage receiving com-' partment or chamber, together with a vapor egress orifice opening through the floor into the chamber, the cover being disposed to close over and hide any unsightly markings on the floor resulting from liquid seepage into the chamber and provision also being made for the escape of vaporfrom the chamber past the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved closure of the character stated wherein the provision for vapor escape from the chamber past the cover is by way of a restricted passage about an edge portion of the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of the character stated wherein the provision for vapor escape from the chamber past the cover is by way of a restricted orifice in the cover. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of the character stated wherein the orificing in the closure chamber floor is formed in a raised portion of the floor thereby to minimize chances of return seepage into the cup on which the closure is affixed of liquid which previously has seeped from the cup into the closure chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of the character stated wherein the chamber floor and the overlying cover disk are bonded together at central portions and the peripheral margin of the disk rests in vapor pressure displaceable contact on the chamber defining bead.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of the character stated wherein the chamber floor has a venting orifice and an upstanding protuberance spaced downwardly from the overlying cover and defining a surrounding annular wall in the chamber between the floor, bead and cover, the cover being bonded to the bead and having a venting orifice therein inwardly of the bonding.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a crosssectional view illustrating a preferred form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the beaded floor portion of the closure body with the cover disk which is to cooperate therewith, the condition of the floor portion and disk prior to attachment thereof one to the other being illustrated.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another form of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, and shows the relation of the floor portion and the cooperating cover disk prior to attachment one to the other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another modification of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the floor portion and cooperating cover disk of FIGURE 5 prior to attachment-of the cover disk to the bead as shown in FIGURE 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the improved closure includes a disk-like body 5 having provision at its periphery, as generally indicated at 6, for attachment to a cup or other container generally designated at 7. It is to be understood that the closure of this invention is preferably an all plastic vacuum form structure, but the same may be formed as a composite of plastic, such as polystyrene and paper.

The cup generally designated at 7 in which a hot beverage such as coffee may be packaged for carryout sales in FIGURE 1 includes the usual body wall 8 which is flared as at 9 toward its open mouth defined by the outwardly turned curl 10. While the closure attaching means at the periphery of the closure may take various forms, in the present disclosure the same includes a heel or plug wall portion 11 receivable in the flare of the body as illustrated in FIGURE 1, a channel 12 to receive and embrace the cup mouth curl 10 and an outer skirt portion 13. The skirt is shown as equipped with inwardly projective flexible and deformable elements or detents 14 for yieldably engaging under the curl 10 in the manner for removably securing the closure or the cup as shown in FIGURE 1.

The closure body may be equipped withone or more annular strengthening ribs 15, and it is also formed to include an upstanding annular bead generally designated 16 and which defines therewith a floor portion 17 preferably including a raised central portion 18 having a venting orifice 20. The raised central portion 18 and the bead 16 define therebetween a generally annular damlike chamber or area 21.

The bead 16 provides a supporting shelf on which is supported the peripheral edge 22 of a cover disk 24, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing.

In this form of the invention the cover disk 24 is bonded centrally to the floor portion 17 at 36, said disk and floor portion being both dished out of the normal planes and being brought together during the central bonding as illustrated in FIGURE 1, thus to yieldably hold the peripheral edge portion 22 of the disk against the upper extremity of the head as a vapor pressure displaceable venting means. Any liquid seeping through the orifice 20 will be trapped in the chamber 21 and the floor portion 17 which might take on a messy appearance as a result of a liquid seepage will be hidden by the cover disk 24. Vapor venting into the chamber between the floor portion 17- and the cover disk 24 may escape by pressure displacement of the peripheral edge 22 of the disk 24 from the supporting bead or rib 16 and the yieldable retention of the disk periphery against the bead will serve to trap a measure of vapor pressure which will be effective to minimize liquid seepage back through the orifice 20 into the cup. Also, the cover disk 24 will prevent any objectionable out-spilling of liquid which may have seeped into the closure chamber or compartment 21.

The condition of the closure disk 24 and the cooperating floor portion 17 prior to bonding of the central portions thereof together as at 18 in FIGURE 1 is shown in FIGURE 2.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a closure body 38 includes an upstanding bead 39 and a floor portion 40 having a central raised portion 41 presenting a damming wall 42. The floor portion 40 is also provided with a venting orifice 43. As in the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the cover disk 44 is bonded at 45 to a central portion of the floor portion, in this instance, on the central raised portion 41-with the peripheral edge of the disk resting upon the head 39 and being displaceable in the manner and for the purpose described in connection with FIGURE 1.

The condition of the closure disk 44 and the cooperating floor portion 40 prior to the bonding thereof together centrally at 45 is shown in FIGURE 4.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES and 6, a closure body 47 includes an upstanding head 48 and a floor portion 49, the latter having a central raised portion 50 presenting a damming wall 51 and having a central venting orifice 52. The cover disk 53 has a venting orifice at 54 and its peripheral margin is bonded at 55 to the upper extremity of the upstanding bead 48. As in the other forms, a vapor and seepage receiving chamber is provided between the floor portion 49 and the overlying cover disk 53, the cover disk serving to hide any messy appearance of the floor portion due to seepage of liquid into the chamber and vapor venting being provided for at 52 and 54. The condition of the floor portion 49 and the cooperating cover disk 53 prior to the bonding at 55 is shown in FIGURE 6.

As was previously stated, the closure structure may be wholly formed of plastic, or the main body may be formedof plastic and cover disk of paper may be employed. In the .bonding of the cover disk to the floor portion, or to particular portions, any suitable adhesive may be employed. Where heat scalable materials are used, the bonding may be by heat sealing, or where plastics are employed, volatile solvents may be employed in providing the desired bonding.

While preferred and alternative forms of the invention are disclosed herein, it is to be understood that additional structural modifications and part arrangements may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A closure of the type described comprising a disclike body having means at its periphery for efiecting attachment to a cup or other container, said means being an annular curl, an upstanding annular bead radially in wardly of said curl, a floor portion encompassed by said bead, said bead and floor portion defining a chamber, an imperforate disc having its peripheral margin freely resting on said bead, said disc being bonded to said floor portion, there being included venting orifice means opening through the floor portion into the chamber for the continuous and uninterrupted passage of vapor pressure into said chamber from a cup to which the closure is adapted to be attached, additional venting orifice means for permitting the escape of vapor pressure from the chamber to atmosphere, said first-mentioned venting orifice means being an opening in the floor portion whereby vapor pressure is free to condense in said chamber after passing through said opening, and said second-mentioned venting orifice means being defined between the peripheral margin of said disc and said upstanding annular bead whereby said peripheral margin is movable away from said annular bead under the influence of vapor pressure in said chamber to permit the escape of the vapor pressure to atmosphere.

2. The closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said floor portion includes a raised portion, and said raised portion partially defines chamber means into which vapor is free to condense and is prevented from re-entering the cup.

3. The closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said floor portion includes a generally centrally axially upwardly disposed raised portion, said raised portion being the portion of said floor portion bonded to said disc, and said opening is offset from the disc-like body axis.

4. The closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said disc and floor portions are slightly concavely contoured and open in opposite axial directions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,048 12/1933 Punte 22044 2,027,137 1/1936 Yeomans. 2,115,340 4/ 1938 McCrosson. 2,170,738 8/ 1939 Thompson 22044 2,242,966 5/ 1941 Burkardt. 2,263,969 11/1941 Ingram 22044 2,429,984 11/ 1947 Berglund 251--119 2,643,024 6/ 1953 Cronheim 22044 2,723,072 11/ 1955 Sayford 2291.5 X 3,090,537 5/1963 Pasciak 229-15 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,264,539 5/1961 France.

GEORGE O. RAISTON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A CLOSURE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING A DISCLIKE BODY HAVING MEANS AT ITS PERIPHERY FOR EFFECTING ATTACHMENT TO A CUP OR OTHER CONTAINER, SAID MEANS BEING AN ANNULAR CURL, AN UPSTANDING ANNULAR BEAD RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID CURL, A FLOOR PORTION ENCOMPASSED BY SAID BEAD, SAID BEAD AND FLOOR PORTION DEFINING A CHAMBER, AN IMPERFORATE DISC HAVING ITS PERIPHERAL MARGIN FREELY RESTING ON SAID BEAD, SAID DISC BEING BONDED TO SAID FLOOR PORTION, THERE BEING INCLUDED VENTING ORIFICE MEANS OPENING THROUGH THE FLOOR POTION INTO THE CHAMBER FOR THE CONTINUOUS AND UNINTERRUPTED PASSAGE OF VAPOR PRESSURE INTO SAID CHAMBER FROM A CUP TO WHICH THE CLOSURE IS ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED, ADDITIONAL VENTING ORIFICE MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE ESCAPE OF VAPOR PRESSURE FROM THE CHAMBER TO ATMOSPHERE, SAID FIRST-MENTIONED VENTING ORIFICE MEANS BEING AN OPENING IN THE FLOOR PORTION WHEREBY VAPOR PRESSURE IS FREE TO CONDENSE IN SAID CHAMBER AFTER PASSING THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND SAID SECOND-MENTIONED VENTING ORIFICE MEANS BEING DEFINED BETWEEN THE PERIPHERAL MARGIN OF SAID DISC AND SAID UPSTANDING ANNULAR BEAD WHEREBY SAID PERIPHERAL MARGIN IS MOVABLE AWAY FROM SAID ANNULAR BEAD UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF VAPOR PRESSURE IN SAID CHAMBER TO PERMIT THE ESCAPE OF THE VAPOR PRESSURE TO ATMOSPHERE.