Abstract:
A 2-piece disposable lid assembly for a drinking cup enables unhindered drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling. The assembly includes a dispensing well formed in a drinking spout, and a flat insert supported by a plurality of baffles within the spout so as to form a horizontal channel through which beverage flows in a circuitous path around the baffles and into the dispensing well. A plurality of vent holes can allow air to enter the cup as beverage is consumed. Vent holes located near the dispensing well can be blocked during drinking when the cup is full and the beverage is hot, but unblocked as the beverage cools and is consumed. Embodiments of the lid can also be used separately as a low-cost, 1-piece lid that reduces splashing. The flat insert is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and installation of the insert in the lid can be automated.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/103,116, filed Jan. 14, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to lids for use with drinking vessels, and more particularly to splash and spill resistant lids for drinking vessels which may be disposable or reusable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Drinking cups, coffee cups, and other types of drinking vessels and cups from which a beverage can be consumed, are frequently used in combination with a cooperating lid adapted for attachment to the cup rim. Some lid designs require removal of the lid from the drinking vessel for consuming the beverage contained therein. However, most commercial drinking cup lids today feature a drink-through opening which allows a user to consume the beverage contained in the drinking vessel without removing the lid therefrom. Note that herein the terms “cup” and “vessel” are used generically to refer to all types of vessels, cups, and containers from which a beverage may be consumed. 
         [0004]    Commonly used coffee cup lids typically feature a drink-through opening proximate to the perimeter of the lid in the form of a small, unobstructed aperture or hole within the lid that allows a person to drink coffee or another beverage without removing the lid from the cup. In addition, at least one separate vent hole is often included in a disposable lid so as to allow air to enter the cup and equalize the pressure inside the cup as the beverage is consumed. 
         [0005]    While providing a drink-through opening in a coffee cup lid facilitates consumption of the beverage without separating the lid from the drinking vessel, it also creates a risk that beverage could be inadvertently splashed or spilled out through the opening if the cup is inadvertently tipped or jostled, or is subjected to sudden acceleration or deceleration. These situations are often encountered when the cup or other drinking vessel is being transported, whether by hand, within a cup holder in a moving vehicle, or while walking, climbing stairs, or traveling in an elevator or escalator. 
         [0006]    Inadvertent spilling and splashing can create dangerous situations when a user is driving or moving. With today&#39;s busy lifestyle, consumption of beverages on-the-go has become commonplace, and inadvertent spilling and splashing of a beverage can be particularly irksome and embarrassing for a user when en route to work or to a professional and/or social engagement. The term “spilling” as generally used herein refers to inadvertent flowing of a beverage out of a cup or drinking vessel, and the term “splashing” as generally used herein refers to the inadvertent ejection or scattering from a cup of beverage droplets or modest quantities of beverage that become airborne due to sudden and/or rapid movement or halting of the drinking vessel. 
         [0007]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that lids for use with cold beverages such as sodas often include holes that fit snuggly around drinking straws, whereby the length of the straw effectively prevents splashing and spilling. However, straws are typically not practical, or at least are not preferred, when consuming a hot beverage such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. 
         [0008]    Lids designed for use with hot beverages sometimes include small holes or flaps near their rims that can be opened for drinking. However, turbulence or “sloshing” of a beverage when the cup has substantial quantities of beverage therein can easily lead to spilling of some liquid out from the hole, and jostling of the cup can cause liquid to splash or spill through such a hole or flap. 
         [0009]    A drainage well is sometimes provided in a disposable lid so that small amounts of liquid that do spill or splash inadvertently from the drinking orifice (or through a vent hole) will pool in a designated region of the lid and drain back into the cup. However, such drainage wells are typically shallow, and are only effective if the cup is maintained in a near-vertical orientation. In certain situations, additional jostling may even cause liquid to splash or spill out of the drainage well before it has drained back into the cup. 
         [0010]    A drinking hole or orifice is sometimes placed at the top of a raised spout, so as to reduce the likelihood that liquid will spill or splash from the drinking hole. However, since the drinking hole is in the direct path of a beverage splash, liquid is still able to splash through the drinking hole if the cup is shaken or jostled with sufficient force, for example if the beverage is being consumed while traveling in a vehicle and the vehicle drives over a rough road, a speed bump, a pot hole, or some other uneven feature in the road (such as train tracks), or is forced to brake or maneuver suddenly. 
         [0011]    Various types of lids for use with drinking cups that feature closable drinking orifices or spouts have been proposed in the art, and some of them are in commercial use. One such lid construction includes a rotatable second piece that can seal the drinking orifice, so that the drinking orifice can be opened and closed by sliding the rotatable second piece to alternate between open and closed positions. Another lid construction includes a connected or tethered cap or plug that can be used to seal the drinking orifice. Still another approach for preventing spills and splashes from the drinking orifice involves placing an adhesive sticker on the drinking orifice (see U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,749). 
         [0012]    Yet another approach involves using a drinking cup with a traditional lid having a drinking orifice, and equipping the cup-lid combination with a separate plug device having a handle end for grasping and a narrow elongated end that is inserted in the drinking cup through the drinking orifice in the lid for temporarily sealing the drinking orifice during transportation or until the user is ready to consume the beverage. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,052,003, D660,077, D659,465 and D673,809). Once the user is ready to consume the beverage, the plug device is removed by pulling on its exposed handle-end and simply discarded. 
         [0013]    These approaches, however, only provide protection from spilling and splashing when the drinking orifice is closed or blocked, and do not naturally inhibit spilling and splashing when open. Furthermore, when the drinking orifice is closed or blocked it also prevents a user from consuming the beverage. In addition, it is too cumbersome and burdensome for a user to repeatedly plug and unplug the drinking orifice manually each time a portion of beverage is to be consumed. Accordingly, once a user has unplugged the drink-through opening, the lid essentially tends to function as an open-spout lid and does not provide splash protection when resting unplugged or during use or consumption of the beverage. Also, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill that these lid solutions tend to be multi-piece constructions, which may be generally more expensive to produce than a one-piece construction lid, and may require an assembly step after forming or molding the lid. 
         [0014]    One approach for inhibiting splashing and spilling without using a plug or cap is to provide barriers or baffles in a one-piece lid that allow flow of liquid for drinking while inhibiting splashing by blocking direct paths from the liquid out through the opening. Examples are presented in published co-pending applications Ser. No. 12/639,649 to Whitaker (US Pat. Pub. 20100133272) and Ser. No. 14/245,116 to Mithal (US Pat. Pub. 20140299614), both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. 
         [0015]    Another approach is to provide a two-piece or multi-piece lid assembly comprising a separate insert that can be placed either on a cup or underneath a lid, wherein the separate insert has fluid passages that are not aligned with the drinking and vent openings in the lid, thereby preventing straight-line travel by splashed, airborne droplets from the cup interior through a lid opening, and forcing the beverage to flow through a convoluted path before exiting through the lid (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,540,350, 5,979,689, 6,305,571, 6,318,584, 6,533,139, 6,811,049 and 7,959,029). 
         [0016]    However, while a two-piece lid assembly can provide good splash resistance, it presents some practical hurdles. If the insert and the lid are required to be installed by a consumer, then it may be inconvenient and cumbersome for the consumer. Also, separate inserts can become dislodged or can shift in position, and can therefore be unreliable. This is true even if the insert is loosely attached to the lid or separately attached to the rim of the cup. On the other hand, if this solution is implemented by a lid manufacturer, it necessarily raises the cost of the lid, since manufacturing involves providing and installing a separate insert within a lid as part of a secondary operation. 
         [0017]    A two-piece splash and spill resistant lid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,959,029 to Whitaker et al. (Whitaker &#39;029). The two-piece design of Whitaker &#39;029 inhibits all direct paths of beverage flow through the spout opening when the cup is upright, and thereby significantly reduces the likelihood that beverage will splash or spill. However, the design of the two pieces is complex, and therefore expensive to produce. Among other things, the insert piece and the outer lid have to be molded or formed in separate molding or forming operations, and then combined to deliver a splash resistant lid assembly. An additional shortcoming that has been observed with the two-piece assembly according to Whitaker &#39;029 is that the insert often tends to fall off into the cup after some time if it is not firmly attached to the lid. 
         [0018]    What is needed, therefore, is an improved splash and spill resistant drinking cup lid that enables a user to consume a beverage through the lid while inhibiting inadvertent spilling and splashing of the beverage from the cup, without requiring deployment of manual plugs or blocking devices, and while minimizing production costs, due to an easily produced lid structure and due to elimination of a need to maintain two separate product lines. These and other needs, as shall hereinafter appear, are met by the device of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    As discussed above, the splash resistant lid constructions in the prior art fall into either of two categories, namely a one-piece construction with a constricted spout area, or a two-piece construction with an insert attached to a relatively non-splash resistant, open-spout, outer lid. In practice, different consumers and buyers have different preferences as to the optimal trade-off between the degree of splash and spill prevention versus the cost of the lid, thus potentially requiring a manufacturer to offer both a lower cost, one-piece lid with modest splash resistance and a higher cost, two-piece lid for greater splash resistance. In order to offer a range of splash resistant lids, this requires a manufacturer to support two separate product lines, and to invest in at least three molds, including a first mold for a one-piece lid with a constricted spout, a second mold for the outer lid of the two-piece lid assembly, and a third mold for the insert of the two-piece lid assembly. 
         [0020]    An insight that enabled the present invention was the realization that splash resistant lid offerings could be improved and simplified by providing a common or “universal” outer lid that can serve as both a one-piece, splash-resistant lid and as the outer lid body of a two-piece splash-resistant lid. It was further realized that the construction of the insert could be simplified by obviating the need for molding or forming the insert in a separate mold, and thereby obviating the need for a separate insert mold. 
         [0021]    The present invention is a lid assembly comprising a lid and a lid insert. The disclosed lid assembly inhibits spilling and splashing of beverages, while minimizing production costs due to a simplified design that allows the lid to be inexpensively produced and the insert to be cut or stamped out of a flat sheet of material at a relatively low cost compared to molding or forming it separately. 
         [0022]    The disclosed lid includes a drinking spout, a dispensing well formed in the drinking spout, and a bottom wall which serves as an integral splash barrier at the bottom of the dispensing well that reduces or eliminates straight-line paths between the dispensing well and a contained beverage. The lid further includes baffles on either side of the dispensing well that serve as barriers to any liquid traveling along the inside of the spout toward the dispensing well, and thereby further reduce the volume of splashed fluid that may find a pathway to the dispensing well openings. The lid is thereby able to function by itself as a one-piece, splash-resistant lid suitable for users who wish to reduce cost as much as possible. 
         [0023]    In embodiments, the dispensing well includes a pair of opposing, substantially vertical side openings of approximately the same size, wherein one of the side openings is proximate the spout front or outer wall and one of the side openings is proximate the spout back or inner wall. When used as a one-piece lid, the two side openings of the dispensing well, in combination with the bottom wall, provide a synergistic effect in various splash circumstances. In particular:
       (1) beverage splashes resulting from a certain volume of fluid rising upwardly from its normal level in the cup impinge on the bottom wall of the dispensing well and are deflected back into the cup;   (2) if a certain volume of splashed beverage emerges from the first opening it can, at least partially, flow through the second opening and drain back into the cup, rather than the entire volume being splashed out of the dispensing well;   (3) if a certain volume of splashed beverage emerges from the second opening it can, at least partially, flow through the first opening and drain back into the cup, rather than the entire volume being splashed out of the dispensing well; and   (4) if a certain volume of splashed beverage emerges from both the first and second openings concurrently, then the flow fronts through the first and second openings impinge against each other and reverse direction, such that a substantial quantity of the beverage drains back into the cup. This splash possibility is analogous to momentum transfer when two balls traveling in opposing directions collide against each other and reverse directions.       
 
         [0028]    When the lid and the insert are assembled, the baffles in the spout serve as supporting spacers for the insert, and ensure that beverage can flow to the spout opening, but only by a circuitous path. This eliminates any need for molding, forming, or shaping of the insert, and allows the insert to be cut or stamped out of a flat sheet of material at a minimal cost. Due to the simplified design and flat nature of the insert, it is also feasible to automate the assembly of the lid with the insert for economical mass manufacturing. Fastening of the insert to the lid can be accomplished by any means known in the art, such as by gluing, heat staking, plastic welding, or ultrasonic or laser bonding. In embodiments, orienting posts extending from the underside of the lid and inserted into corresponding holes in the insert can serve to maintain the proper alignment of the two pieces, and welding of the tops of the posts can provide secure attachment between the lid and the insert pieces. The two-piece lid assembly with the thermally fastened insert thereby provides a cost-effective manufacturing solution with a high degree of spill and splash resistance. 
         [0029]    Various embodiments include one or more vent holes in the lid that permit air to enter the cup and equalize the internal pressure as a beverage is consumed. Certain of these embodiments include a plurality of vent holes. In some of these embodiments, the plurality of vent holes includes vent holes of different sizes that are selectively located so as to control the maximum rate at which a beverage can flow from the cup. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments designed to hold hot beverages, one or more vent holes are located in proximity to the drinking spout or the dispensing well, so that when the cup is full and the beverage in the cup is hot, tipping of the cup from vertical beyond a certain angle causes the beverage to block vent holes near the dispensing well, thereby reducing the rate of liquid flow out of the cup. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a typical user tilts the cup towards his or her mouth to consume the beverage therefrom, and has a tendency to consume the beverage in smaller sips when the beverage is hot. Thus, blocking of some of the vent holes when the cup is full complements the natural tendency of the user to consume beverage at a slower rate when the cup is full and the beverage is hot. As the cup is emptied and the beverage cools, the level of liquid falls, and some of the previously blocked vent holes are uncovered, thereby increasing the liquid flow rate. 
         [0031]    And in various embodiments, a plurality of different insert sizes and designs can be produced and then combined with lids according to customer requirements. For example, smaller inserts that cover only subsets of the lid baffles can be installed in lids in place of larger inserts that cover all of the baffles. 
         [0032]    In another general aspect of the present invention, where the lid is primarily intended for use in a two-piece configuration, or where splash-resistance is not of interest for the outer lid when used alone, the design of the outer lid is further simplified by omitting part or all of the bottom wall of the dispensing well. In these embodiments, the flat insert in the two-piece lid assembly takes the place of the bottom wall of the dispensing well, and blocks all direct paths from the interior of the container through the dispensing well. Accordingly, in some embodiments the dispensing well comprises two end walls projecting towards the interior of the cup and terminating in mounting posts for receiving the insert. In other embodiments, at least one of the end walls can be shaped in the form of an end post or stem that terminates into a mounting post for receiving the insert. In still other embodiments, the dispensing well structure is replaced with a drink opening and the mounting provisions for the flat insert are disposed at proximate locations on either side of the drink opening. The mounting provisions for the flat insert may also serve as baffles for providing a tortuous path for the beverage flow before it emerges from the drink opening. 
         [0033]    One general aspect of the present invention is a lid assembly for use with a drinking vessel. The lid assembly includes a lid having a peripheral rim configured for engaging with said drinking vessel, a drinking spout extending upward from the lid, a dispensing well formed within said drinking spout, said drinking spout and said dispensing well being configured for allowing consumption of a beverage contained within an interior of said drinking vessel by a user, a splash barrier provided at a bottom of the dispensing well, at least one opening disposed in a side of the dispensing well, said opening being configured for allowing the beverage to flow from the interior of the drinking vessel into the dispensing well when the drinking vessel is tipped for drinking, a plurality of baffles located on at least one internal surface of the drinking spout, at least one of the baffles being located on each side of the splash barrier, and a lid insert fixed within an interior of the drinking spout, the lid insert providing a channel beneath the lid insert through which the beverage can flow horizontally from the interior of the drinking vessel into the dispensing well. 
         [0034]    In embodiments, a width of said lid insert substantially spans an internal width of said drinking spout, forming a liquid seal with opposing internal walls of the drinking spout. In some embodiments, the at least one opening is formed by an absence of a side wall of the dispensing well. In various embodiments, the at least one opening includes an opening on each of opposing sides of the dispensing well. 
         [0035]    Certain embodiments further include at least one vent hole that provides air communication between the interior of the drinking vessel and air exterior to the lid. Some embodiments further include a plurality of vent holes that admit air into the interior of the drinking vessel as the beverage in the drinking vessel is consumed. In some of these embodiments, at least a first vent hole amongst the plurality of vent holes is located proximate said dispensing well. In various of these embodiments, the plurality of vent holes includes a plurality of vent hole sizes. 
         [0036]    Embodiments further include a plurality of vent holes located at a plurality of locations offset from the dispensing well, wherein at least one vent hole amongst said plurality of vent holes is blocked by said beverage when the drinking vessel is full of beverage and is tipped from an upright position. 
         [0037]    Various embodiments further include at least one locating pin extending from the bottom of the dispensing well, end wall, end post, baffle, or lid towards the interior of the drinking vessel and through a corresponding hole provided in said lid insert. And in some of these embodiments, the lid insert is fixed within the drinking spout by a shaped feature provided at the end of the at least one locating pin, said shaped feature being configured to prevent the lid insert from being removed from the locating pin. 
         [0038]    In embodiments, the lid insert is fixed within the drinking spout by an adhesive. In some embodiments, the lid is constructed from at least one of paper, plastic, thermoplastic resin, foam, a laminated material, a compostable resin, and a biodegradable material. 
         [0039]    In various embodiments, the lid is manufactured by one of thermoforming, injection molding, compression molding, vacuum forming, pressure forming, and hydro forming. In other embodiments, the lid is injection molded from a suitable grade of polypropylene resin. In still other embodiments, the lid is injection molded from a plastic material. 
         [0040]    In certain embodiments the baffles are offset in an alternating pattern that forces the beverage to flow around the baffles in a serpentine path toward the dispensing well. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments the lid assembly is disposable. In various embodiments, the lid assembly is compatible for use with a drinking vessel that is configured for holding and dispensing a drinkable fluid that is one of tea, coffee, soup, shake, juice, and milk. 
         [0042]    Another general aspect of the present invention is a method for providing a splash resistant lid assembly for use with a drinking vessel. The method includes forming a lid having a peripheral rim configured for engaging with said drinking vessel, said lid having a drinking spout extending upward from the lid and a dispensing well formed within said drinking spout, said drinking spout and said dispensing well being configured for allowing consumption of a beverage contained within an interior of said drinking vessel by a user, forming at least two mutually opposed openings in the dispensing well, said openings being configured for allowing the beverage to flow from the interior of the drinking vessel into the dispensing well when the drinking vessel is tipped for drinking, forming at least two protrusions in said dispensing well, forming at least one baffle located on each side of the dispensing well on the interior surface of the lid, providing a substantially flat arcuate lid insert with two holes, said lid insert being configured for assembly with said lid by accommodating said two protrusions within said two holes, and assembling said lid and said insert by locally bonding said lid and said lid insert by one of ultrasonic bonding, heat staking, gluing, and welding. 
         [0043]    Embodiments further include forming a plurality of flat arcuate lid inserts that differ from each other in at least one of size and shape, and selecting one of the inserts to be assembled with said lid. 
         [0044]    The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0045]      FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a lid in an embodiment of the present invention that includes a plurality of vent holes located about the periphery of the lid opposite to the drinking spout; 
           [0046]      FIG. 2A  is a sectional side view of the lid of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 2B  is an enlarged sectional view of the spout region of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 3A  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the flat insert separately positioned above the lid; 
           [0049]      FIG. 3B  is a close-up bottom view of the splash barrier and dispensing well of  FIG. 3A , showing the orienting posts in more detail; 
           [0050]      FIG. 3C  is a bottom view of the assembled lid and insert of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional side view of the spout region of  FIG. 3C ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged bottom view of the spout region of  FIG. 3C , shown without the insert; 
           [0053]      FIG. 6  is a perspective top view of an embodiment in which the lid includes groups of vent holes of varying sizes and at varying distances from the spout; 
           [0054]      FIG. 7A  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention similar to  FIG. 3A , but shown together with a smaller insert configured to cover a subset of the baffles; and 
           [0055]      FIG. 7B  is a bottom view of the assembled lid and insert of  FIG. 7A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0056]    The present invention is generally directed towards a lid that engages with a drinking cup or a similar vessel and allows a user to drink therefrom while naturally inhibiting splashing and spilling of beverage from the drinking cup without requiring use of an orifice sealing device or plug, and without requiring the user to plug and unplug the drinking orifice with a connected or separate plug member. The following description of one or more exemplary embodiments, in conjunction with accompanying drawings of representative lids, is offered as illustrative of the invention, but should not be regarded as restricting the scope of the invention. 
         [0057]    As noted elsewhere, the lid constructions according to various embodiments of the invention offer particular utility for disposable drinking cups, which are typically used for holding cold and hot beverages and are generally constructed from paper, plastic, or foam materials. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the lid embodiments described herein can also be utilized and/or adapted for reusable cups and drinking vessels made from plastic, foam or other materials. Depending on the embodiment, the lid of the present invention can be utilized for consuming all kinds of hot and cold beverages, including coffee, tea, soup, shakes, frappes, and slush drinks. The lid of the present invention can also be used in combination with disposable or reusable cups for children of all ages. According to still other embodiments of the invention, the lid spout and dispensing well constructions can be used for dispensing consumable liquids such as salad dressing, vinegar, coffee cream, etc. 
         [0058]    With reference to the perspective top view of  FIG. 1 , there is shown lid  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Lid  100  is designed to be securely but removably attachable along the periphery of a drinking cup (not shown) as is known in the art. Lid  100  includes a raised drinking spout  102  that allows a user to comfortably accommodate his/her lips around the drinking spout  102 , a dispensing well  104 , a splash barrier or bottom wall at the bottom of the dispensing well  106 , and dispensing well openings  108  and  110  located in the side walls of the dispensing well. A plurality of vent holes  112  are provided along the rim opposite the spout  102 , thereby ensuring that none of the vent holes  110  will be blocked by liquid as the liquid is consumed, even when the cup is full of liquid. The drinking spout  102  comprises a top wall  114 , outer spout wall  116  and inner spout wall  118 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 2A  is a sectional view of the lid of  FIG. 1 , showing the relative arrangement of the dispensing well  104 , splash barrier or bottom wall  106 , and side openings  108  and  110 .  FIG. 2B  is a close-up sectional illustration of the spout region of the lid of  FIG. 2A . A dotted line  200  in  FIG. 2B  illustrates the indirect path that a liquid must follow to flow from the interior of the cup out through the dispensing well. 
         [0060]    While the lid  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 2B  can be used by itself as a low cost, one-piece, splash-inhibiting lid, the present invention provides for improved performance by combining lid  100  with an insert. With reference to  FIG. 3A , lid  100  is shown with a relatively flat lid insert  300  that, upon suitable assembly with the lid, further inhibits spilling and splashing of beverages from the lid. Due to its simplified design the insert  300  can be cost effectively cut or stamped out of a flat sheet of material. 
         [0061]      FIG. 3A  includes a bottom view of the lid of  FIG. 1 . It can be seen in the figure that the lid  100  further includes baffles  308  emanating from outer spout wall  116  on either side of the dispensing well  104 . Similarly, baffles  302  emanating from inner spout wall  118 , are provided on either side of the dispensing well  104 . If the lid  100  is used alone as a one-piece lid, the baffles  302  and  308  serve as barriers to any liquid traveling along the inside of the spout  102  toward the dispensing well  104 . It can also be seen in the figure that orienting posts  304  are provided on the left and right ends of the splash barrier  106 , and that corresponding orienting holes  306  are provided in the flat insert  300 .  FIG. 3B  is a close-up view of the dispensing well of  FIG. 3A , showing the splash barrier  106  and orienting posts  304  in closer detail. It will be realized by those skilled in the art that only one set of baffles  302  or  308  can be employed according to an embodiment of the invention, and can be straight or curved and configured in a variety of orientations relative to the inner and outer spout walls. 
         [0062]      FIG. 3C  is a bottom view of the lid  100  of  FIG. 3A , shown with the lid insert  300  installed in the spout  102  of the lid  100 . When the lid  100  and the insert  300  are assembled together, the baffles  302  and  308  in the spout  102  serve as supporting spacers for the insert  300 , and ensure that beverage can flow through a channel in between the insert and the lid to the dispensing well  102 , but only by a circuitous path around the baffles  302  and  308 . This eliminates any need for shaping of the insert  300 , and allows the insert  300  to be cut or stamped out of a flat sheet of material at a minimal cost. Assembly of the lid  100  with the insert  300  is easily automated, due to the simple design. Fixed attachment of the insert  300  to the lid  100  can be accomplished by any means known in the art, such as by press fitting, gluing, ultrasonic bonding, heat staking or plastic welding. 
         [0063]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 3C , the orienting posts  304  serve to maintain proper alignment of the two pieces  100 ,  300 , and welding of the tops of the posts provides attachment between the pieces  100 ,  300 . The lid assembly  310  thereby provides a cost-effective two-piece solution with a high degree of spill and splash resistance. 
         [0064]      FIG. 4  is a close-up sectional view of the spout of  FIG. 3C , similar to  FIG. 2B , but showing the lid insert  300  installed in the lid  100 . The dashed line  400  in the figure illustrates the circuitous path that liquid must follow to flow from the interior, along the channel between the lid  100  and the insert  300  and out through the dispensing well  104 .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged bottom view of a portion of the lid  100  of  FIG. 3C , but with the insert removed. The dashed line illustrates the liquid path  400  winding around the baffles  302  and  308  on its way to the dispensing well  104 . 
         [0065]    As mentioned above, various embodiments include one or more vent holes  112  in the lid that permit air to enter the cup and equalize the internal pressure as a beverage is consumed. With reference to  FIG. 6 , certain of these embodiments  610  include a plurality of vent holes  600 ,  602 ,  604  of different sizes that are selectively located so as to control the maximum rate at which a beverage can flow from the cup. In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , one group of small vent holes  600  is located near the rim of the lid  100  in a region opposite the spout  102 , a second group of intermediate size vent holes  602  is located closer to the spout  102 , and a third group  604  of larger vent holes is positioned near to the spout. 
         [0066]    The embodiment of  FIG. 6  is especially advantageous when used with hot beverages. When the cup is full and the beverage in the cup is hot, tipping of the cup from vertical beyond a certain angle will cause the beverage to block the vent holes  602 ,  604  near the dispensing well, thereby reducing the rate of liquid flow out of the cup. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a typical user tilts the cup towards his or her mouth to consume the beverage therefrom, and has a tendency to consume the beverage in smaller sips when the beverage is hot. Thus, initially blocking of some of the vent holes  602 ,  604  complements the natural tendency of the user to consume beverage at a slower rate when the cup is full and the beverage is hot. As the cup is emptied and the beverage cools, the level of liquid falls, and the second group  602  of vent holes is uncovered, allowing the liquid to flow more quickly. Finally, when even more liquid has been consumed, and the liquid has cooled even further, the third group of vent holes  604  is uncovered, thereby increasing the liquid flow rate to its maximum. 
         [0067]    In various embodiments, a plurality of different insert sizes and designs are produced and then combined with lids according to customer requirements. As described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 3A and 3C , insert  300  covers both sets of baffles  302  and  308 . For example, with reference to  FIG. 7A , there is shown an alternate embodiment with a smaller insert  700  that covers only a subset  308  of the lid baffles and can be installed in a lid  100  instead of a larger insert  300  that covers all of the baffles  308 ,  302 . The assembled lid  710  with the smaller insert is shown in  FIG. 7B . 
         [0068]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Each and every page of this submission, and all contents thereon, however characterized, identified, or numbered, is considered a substantive part of this application for all purposes, irrespective of form or placement within the application. This specification is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. 
         [0069]    Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, the scope of the invention is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The disclosure presented herein does not explicitly disclose all possible combinations of features that fall within the scope of the invention. The features disclosed herein for the various embodiments can generally be interchanged and combined into any combinations that are not self-contradictory without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the limitations presented in dependent claims below can be combined with their corresponding independent claims in any number and in any order without departing from the scope of this disclosure, unless the dependent claims are logically incompatible with each other.