Abstract:
A container used to retain liquids in manner which enables the liquid within the container to be consumed by a person holding the container in the person&#39;s hand and drinking the liquid when the lid is in either the open or closed condition. In the closed condition, a straw is inserted through an opening in the lid. The container has the unique features of having a self-sealing lid which is retained on the container through a living hinge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of containers used to retain a liquid and which enables the liquid to be consumed while a person holds the container in the person&#39;s hand with the lid of the container being in either the open or closed condition. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In general, containers used to retain a liquid, whether hot or cold, are known in the prior art. The following list of patents are patents known to the present inventor which are containers of various designs used to retain liquids for consumption by person holding the container and consuming the liquid contents retained within the container: 
         [0005]    The following 21 patents and published patent applications are relevant to the field of the present invention: 
         [0006]    1. U.S. Pat. No. 2,690,861 issued to Earl S. Tupper on Oct. 5, 1954 for “Dispensing Closure”. 
         [0007]    2. U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 189,586 issued to George S. Nalle, Jr. on Jan. 10, 1961 for “Tumbler”. 
         [0008]    3. U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 192,296 issued to Walfred M. Nyman on Feb. 27, 1962 for “Cup or Similar Article”. 
         [0009]    4. U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,468 issued to Ronald Baron on Jul. 13, 1965 for “Plastic Drinking Cups”. 
         [0010]    5. U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 204,783 issued to Ronald E. Johnson and assigned to Columbus Plastics Products, Inc. on May 17, 1966 for “Drinking Cup”. 
         [0011]    6. U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 212,352 issued to Paul Davis on Oct. 8, 1968 for “Cup”. 
         [0012]    7. U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,253 issued to Paul Davis et al. on Apr. 8, 1969 for “Disposable Plastic Cup With Stiff Gripping Section”. 
         [0013]    8. U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,715 issued to Bryant Edwards on May 13, 1969 for “Double Wall Container”. 
         [0014]    9. U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,262 issued to Teunis Van&#39;t Hoff on Sep. 20, 1971 for “Cup, Mug or Other Drinking Vessel, More Especially Made of Plastic”. 
         [0015]    10. U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,135 issued to Michael A. Yung et al. on Jan. 14, 1975 for “Container And Container-Cap Combination”. 
         [0016]    11. U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 248,358 issued to Tommy Thomas on Jul. 4, 1978 for “Cup”. 
         [0017]    12. U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,081 issued to Brad M. McCabe on May 10, 1994 for “Integral Beverage Container”. 
         [0018]    13. U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,011 issued to Dan E. Fischer on May 17, 1994 for “Stackable Container System”. 
         [0019]    14. U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,094 issued to Thomas P. Rapchak et al. on Sep. 16, 1997 for “Container and Closure Assembly”. 
         [0020]    15. U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,716 issued to Liming Cai et al. on Jun. 16, 1998 for “Cup Protector”. 
         [0021]    16. U.S. Design Pat. No. D437,733 issued to Sascha Kaposi on Feb. 20, 2001 for “Ribbed Side Drinking Vessel”. 
         [0022]    17. U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,981 issued to Joey L. Rohlfs on Jun. 3, 2003 for “Disposable Sipper Cups”. 
         [0023]    18. U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,728 issued to Raymond Newkirk et al. on Aug. 5, 2003 for “Thermal Cup Holder”. 
         [0024]    19. U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,289 B2 issued to John Green on Oct. 18, 2005 for “Container Having an Integral Lid”. 
         [0025]    20. United States Published Patent Application No. 2006/0043100 to Joseph E. Johnson et al. for “Vial With Hinged Cap And Method of Making Same”. 
         [0026]    21. United States Published Patent Application No. 2009/0223969 to Tony V. Bouie on Sep. 10, 2009 for “Lid Assembly and Method For Use Thereof”. 
         [0027]    There is a significant need for an improved container which provides advantages which are lacking in the prior art containers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The present invention is a container used to retain liquids in manner which enables the liquid within the container to be consumed by a person holding the container in the person&#39;s hand and drinking the liquid when the lid is in either the open or closed condition. The present invention container has the unique features of having a self-sealing lid which is retained on the container through a living hinge. The lid further accomplishes a positive and effective seal when the lid is closed so that leakage from the container is eliminated or at least minimized during normal use thereof. The design of the lid enables the liquid within the container to be consumed with the lid in either the closed or open condition. 
         [0029]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container for retaining liquids which can be consumed from the container while a person is grasping the sidewall of the container with the person&#39;s hand. 
         [0030]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container having a lid retained onto the container by an integral living hinge which enables the lid to be placed in an open condition so that liquid may be poured into the container and which enables the container to thereafter be sealed with a positive and effective seal. 
         [0031]    It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a container having integral tab means to enable the container to be opened after it has been positively sealed so that more liquid can be poured into the container or liquid can be removed from the container. 
         [0032]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container with a lid retained by a living hinge so that the lid is integral with the container and will not be inadvertently lost or soiled which is a problem with prior art containers which have a separately affixed lid. 
         [0033]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container which enables liquid to be consumed from the container when the lid is in either the closed or open condition. 
         [0034]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container made out of biodegradable material so that the material can be reused and is eco-friendly. 
         [0035]    Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention container with an integral lid retained on the container by a living hinge, the container shown with the lid in the closed condition; 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the container with the lid in the closed condition; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the container with the lid in the closed condition; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the container with the lid in the closed condition; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the container with the lid in the closed condition; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the container with the lid in the closed condition, the view taken when viewed from the left side, the right side elevational view being a mirror image thereof; 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the present invention container with an integral lid retained on the container by a living hinge, the container shown with the lid in the open condition; 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the container with the lid in the open condition; 
           [0045]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the container with the lid in the open condition; 
           [0046]      FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the container with the lid in the open condition; 
           [0047]      FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view of the container with the lid in the open condition; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the container with the lid in the open condition, the view taken when viewed from the left side, the right side elevational view being a mirror image thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0049]    Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 12 , the present invention cup or container  210  includes a bottom  212  and a rim  214  and a continuous wall  216  interconnecting the bottom  212  and the rim  214 . The continuous wall has an exterior surface  218  and an interior surface  220 . The container has an interior chamber  222  surrounded by the wall  216  and bottom  212 . Disposed below the rim  214  at a distance “H 1 ” is an interior groove  226  which extends for a continuous given circumferential distance along the interior circumference of interior wall  220 . The rim  214  is aligned with and extends for approximately the same circumferential distance as the groove  226 . The continuous wall  216  extends for approximately the same circumferential distance as the rim  214  and at a given height “H 2 ” and then slopes downwardly to a lower wall  216 A having a height “H 3 ” which is below rim  214  and above interior groove  226 . 
         [0051]    The lid  230  of the present invention is generally circular in shape and has a top surface  232  and a bottom surface  234  with and opening  236  extending through the lid  230  from the bottom surface  234  to the top surface  232 , the opening  236  preferably located at approximately the center of the lid  230  so that a straw can be inserted through opening  236 . The lid  230  has an exterior circumference  238 . A flexible living hinge  260  is integrally formed with the container wall  216  and lid  230  with an interior end  262  formed with and resting against lower wall  216 A and an exterior end  264  terminating in a vertical member  266  formed into lid  230 . The living hinge  120  has an recess or cut  268  about which the living hinge  260  can rotate. 
         [0052]    The lid  130  has at least one and preferably a pair of spaced apart tabs  240  and  248  integrally formed with the lid and adjacent the exterior circumference  238  of the lid  230 . First tab  240  includes a vertical section  242 , first bent section  244  and a transverse section  246 . Second tab  248  includes a vertical section  250 , a first bent section  252  and a transverse section  254 . In the preferred embodiment, the first and second tabs  240  and  248  are located on the rim  230  at approximately equal distances from the location where the lid  230  is attached to the living hinge  240 . 
         [0053]    When in the closed condition, the lid  230  and living hinge  260  are rotated about cut  268  in living hinge  260  so that circumference  238  of lid  230  is retained within groove  226 . The fit enables the lid  230  to form a seal at the location of the groove  226  so that liquid  500  contained in the interior chamber  222  will not spill out. The tabs  240  and  248  are positioned so that respective transverse sections  246  and  254  rest over and against rim  214 . As a result, because of the tight fit of the lid  230  within groove  226 , it would be difficult to pull the lid  230  free without the transverse sections  246  and  254  which extend above and rest on the rim  214  so that one or both tabs  240  and/or  248  can be pulled on to overcome the force of the lid  230  within the groove  226  to open the container  210  and permit more liquid  500  to be poured into chamber  222  or to permit the liquid to be consumed by a person placing the person&#39;s lips on the rim  214 . With the lid  230  in the closed condition, the liquid can be consumed by sipping the liquid  400  through a straw inserted through opening  238  in lid  230 . When in the closed condition, the space surrounded in the interior wall  218  and lid  230  can retain any liquid  500  that spilled out of opening  238  or may bleed out of the chamber  222  at the location of the intersection of the lid  230  and groove  226 . 
         [0054]    Therefore, through this design, any liquid but primary liquid  500  that is hot can be retained in the chamber  222  and sipped through opening  238  while the tight sealing fit of the lid  230  within interior groove  226  will assure that no liquid  500  will inadvertently spill out. 
         [0055]    The entire container  210  including the wall  216  and bottom  212 , lid  230 , living hinge  260  and tabs  240  and  248  are preferably made out of biodegradable material which can be melted down and reformatted into a new container. The container  210  and its components can also be made out of polyurethane foam, or food grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) so that it is a disposable container. 
         [0056]    Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.