Stackable Cup Lid

A stackable cup lid includes an annular base, a lateral wall, a straw opening, a sip channel, a removable tab, a plurality of connectors, and a radial rib. The lateral wall is perimetrically connected around the annular base and delineate the general profile of the stackable cup lid. The straw opening concentrically traverses through the annular base and enables to insert a straw for cold beverage consumption. The sip channel that enables the consumption of hot beverage traverses through the annular base. The removable tab is connected to a rim of the sip channel through the plurality of connectors to open the sip channel when necessary. The radial rib is internally connected onto the lateral wall and allows the stackable cup lid to engage and secure with a rim of a beverage cup.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a cup lid. More particularly, the present invention is a stackable cup lid that allows the stored beverage within a cup to be discharged through a straw or a sip channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A cup lid is an apparatus that can be utilized as a closure or seal for a beverage cup so that the stored beverage within the beverage cup can be contained within. Generally, the cup lid and a rim of the beverage cup create a tight seal to reduce leak and allows the user to safely consume the stored beverage. The existing cup lids are generally made from plastic material so that the cup lid can be somewhat rigid so they can be staked for storage purposes. Due to the popularity of different types of beverages such as coffee, soda, tea, juice, and other similar beverages, the disposing of these plastic cup lids increases the plastic pollution.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a stackable cup lid that is made from paper material. More specifically, the present invention is made from the paper material and configured with sufficient structural integrity to seal around the rim of the beverage cup. The present invention is also configured with a straw opening to consume cold beverage and sip channel to consume hot beverage. Resultantly, the present invention is able to provide solution to the plastic pollution that is creating through the existing plastic cup lid without compromising the functionality of the cup lid or changing the user behavior with respect to beverage consumption.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a stackable cup lid that is configured to seal around a rim of beverage cup. Due to the fact the rim of the beverage cup is seal with the present invention, any leakage of stored beverage within the beverage cup and eliminated or drastically reduced. The present invention comprises an annular base1, a lateral wall5, a straw opening11, a sip channel12, a removable tab14, a plurality of connectors15, and a radial rib16as shown inFIG. 1-5. In reference to the general configuration of the present invention, the lateral wall5is perimetrically connected around the annular base1so that the general embodiment of the present invention can be delineated. The straw opening11concentrically traverses through the annular base1thus allowing the user to consume the stored beverage through a straw. The sip channel12, that allows the user to consume the stored beverage by placing their mouth against, traverses through the annular base1. The removable tab14is connected to a rim13of the sip channel12through the plurality of connectors15, wherein the sip channel12is covered through the attachment of the removable tab14to the annular base1. The radial rib16is internally connected onto the lateral wall5so that the lateral wall5can be engaged with the rim of the beverage cup through the radial rib16.

In order to eliminate plastic pollution, the present invention is completely made from paper material thus providing a biodegradable product. More specifically, the annular base1, the lateral wall5, the removable tab14, the plurality of connectors15, and the radial rib16are made from paper material as the straw opening11and the sip channel12are holes within the annular base1. In order to securely seal around the rim of the beverage cup and to protect the structural integrity of the present invention, a thickness ratio between the annular base1and the lateral wall5is approximately 1:2. In other words, the thickness of the lateral wall5is approximately twice the thickness of annular base1.

The annular base1is generally a circular shape body to match the rim of the beverage cup and comprises an inner section2, an intermediate section3, and an outer section4. In reference toFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the outer section4is concentrically connected around the inner section2through the intermediate section3. In other words, the outer section4is positioned atop the inner section2wherein the intermediate section3is positioned perpendicular to both the inner section2and the outer section4. The lateral wall5is concentrically connected around the outer section4and extends below the inner section2.

In reference toFIG. 2, the straw opening11traverses through the inner section2allows and opening to insert a straw so that a cold beverage can be consumed. More specifically, the straw opening11is shaped into a X-shaped thus delineating four wings within the inner section2. When the straw is placed above the straw opening11and pushed downward, the four wings within the inner section2bent downward towards the beverage cup and laterally supports the straw. Resultantly, the straw is generally positioned perpendicular to the inner section2in such wat that the open end of the straw can be easily accessed by the user. In reference toFIG. 2, the sip channel12traverses through the inner section2and positioned in between the straw opening11and the outer section4. The sip channel12is preferably shaped into a triangular shape so that the user is able to comfortably consume a hot beverage by placing the sip channel12against their mouth. Due to the triangular shape of the sip channel12, a top end of the sip channel12that is positioned adjacent to the straw opening11functions as a vent and allows air to enter into the beverage cup so that the inside pressure of the beverage cup can be regulated.

In reference toFIG. 6-7, the present invention further comprises a first height17and a second height18. More specifically, the first height17is delineated from a bottom edge10of the lateral wall5to the outer section4. The second height18is delineated from the bottom edge10to the inner section2. The first height17is larger than the second height18thus allocating the offset difference between the outer section4to the inner section2.

In reference toFIG. 6-7, the lateral wall5comprises an upper section6, an angled section7, and a lower section8thus delineating the general shape of the lateral wall5. More specifically, the upper section6and the lower section8are oppositely positioned of each other about the angled section7. The upper section6is perimetrically connected to the angled section7. The lower section8is perimetrically connected to the angled section7, wherein an obtuse angle is delineated about an inner wall9of lower section8and an inner wall9of the angled section7. The annular base1is concentrically connected within the upper section6and positioned opposite of the angled section7in such a way that a right angle is delineated about an inner wall9of the upper section6and the outer section4of the annular base1. In other words, the upper section6is perpendicularly connected around the outer section4of the annular base1. Then, the angled section7is tapered away from the annular base1to facilitate the connection of the lower section8. The lower section8is then perimetrically connected around the angled section7and positioned opposite of the upper section6. As a result, an inner diameter19of the upper section6is smaller than an inner diameter20of the lower section8.

In reference toFIG. 8, the radial rib16is laterally connected to the upper section6and positioned adjacent to the angled section7. More specifically, the radial rib16is laterally connected onto the inner wall9of the upper section6to facilitate the engagement between the present invention and the beverage cup. When the present invention is pressed against the rim of the beverage cup, the lower section8first goes around the rim of the beverage cup. Then, the angled section7and the obtuse angle guide the rim of the beverage cup towards the upper section6. The radial rib16goes over and positioned below the rim of the beverage cup thus engaging the present invention with the beverage cup.

Due to the preferred triangular shape of the sip opening, the removable tab14is also shaped into a rectangular shape. In reference toFIG. 5, the plurality of connectors15is perimetrically interspaced between the removable tab14and the rim13of the sip channel12so that the removable tab14can be attached to the rim13. When a hot beverage is about to be consumed through the present invention, the user can simply tear of the removable tab14to access the sip opening.

The present invention is preferably manufactured through a compressing and molding process of a circular shaped paper material. First, the offsetting positioning of the inner section2, the intermediate section3, the outer section4, and the lateral wall5are formed through a top male mold and a bottom female mold. The bottom edge10of the lateral wall5is then engaged with a bottom curling mold so that the lateral wall5can be curled inward through the top male mold and the bottom curling mold. Then, pre-heated hot air is introduced into the underside of the current mold of the present invention before introducing a bottom knurling wheel to the inner wall9of the lateral wall5. The rotation of the bottom knurling wheel and positioning of the top male mold then compress an inner curled section of the lateral wall5to an outer flat section of the lateral wall5thus delineating the radial rib16. Pre-heated hot air is then introduced to the underside of the current mold of the present invention after the removable of the bottom knurling wheel. A bottom stacking forming mold is then rotated against the inner wall9of the lateral wall5, wherein the top male mold stays stationary. The upper section6, the angled section7, and the lower section8are then delineated within the lateral wall5thus completing the manufacturing process of the present invention.