Abstract:
A disposable drink-through dome lid for disposable drinking cups used in the sale of hot or cold beverages. In order to extend the volume within the cup, the top surface of the lid is elevated above the top surface of the beverage cup when in place, and is encompassed by an annular ridge that includes a generally oval-shaped opening for drinking. In its preferred form the ridge is not continuous around its perimeter but is partially recessed on both sides of opening. In its preferred embodiment the generally oval-shaped opening includes a barrier that projects downward from the opening&#39;s perimeter thereby providing shielding against accidental spillage due to sloshing of the beverage while transporting or consuming in a moving vehicle.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA 
   Continuation-in-part of Provisional Patent Application, No. 60/542,237, Feb. 6, 2004. 
   U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               4,589,569 
               May 1986 
               Clements 
               220/380 
             
             
                 
               4,767,019 
               August 1988 
               Horner 
               220/90.4 
             
             
                 
               5,065,880 
               November 1991 
               Horner 
               220/711 
             
             
                 
               5,253,781 
               October 1993 
               Van Melle et al. 
               220/713 
             
             
                 
               5,624,053 
               April 1997 
               Freek et al. 
               220/713 
             
             
                 
               5,839,601 
               November 1998 
               Van Melle 
               220/712 
             
             
                 
               5,890,621 
               April 1999 
               Bachman et al 
               220/717 
             
             
                 
               6,419,112 
               July 2002 
               Bruce et al. 
               220/781 
             
             
                 
               6,523,712 
               February 2003 
               McGushion 
               220/713 
             
             
                 
               6,644,490 
               November 2003 
               Clarke 
               220/254.1 
             
             
                 
               6,679,397 
               January 2004 
               Smith et al. 
               220/254.1 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to disposable lids for beverage cups; and, more particularly, the present invention is directed to disposable dome lids which may be placed over the lip of a beverage cup and which provides a drink-through opening near the perimeter of the lid&#39;s top surface for easy drinking access to the beverage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Disposable dome lids with a drink-through opening that affix to disposable beverage cups have become extremely popular as a means for merchants to provide a wide variety of carry-out hot and cold beverages to the consumer. The many benefits of dome lids have been described in detail within prior art and are well-known to the general public. 
   All disposable dome lids are designed to grip and seal upon an outwardly projecting bead formed at the lip of disposable cups intended for this purpose. Two methods for attaching disposable dome lids to cups have been described in prior art and are commonly used in practice. The original method provides an annular outwardly projecting groove that snaps into place when pushed over the lip of the cup. Because of the flexibility of the plastic material used in the manufacture of disposable lids, the annular apron at the lid&#39;s base is able to momentarily expand while sliding over the bead surrounding the lip of the cup. When in place the annular groove grips the annular bead thereby holding and sealing the lid to the cup. Rather than having an outwardly projecting groove, disposable dome lids employing the newer method of attachment have an inverted annular groove surrounding the lid&#39;s base and forming what is referred to as a “plug fit”. When attached, the cup&#39;s lip extends into the inverted groove that applies pressure not only to the cup lip&#39;s outer edge but to the inner edge as well. The plug fit method, by applying pressure to both sides of the cup&#39;s edge, eliminates the possibility of the cup&#39;s lip caving inward causing the seal to break. For this reason, the plug fit can be applied to less expensive cups having a weaker sidewall, and in that regard is considered an improvement over the earlier method. 
   The present invention is set forth suggesting the first method of attachment for illustration purposes, yet it is not the intent of the examples contained herein to preclude one method over the other since all embodiments disclosed herein are applicable to either. The present invention recognizes that both methods are commonly and successfully used commercially. 
   Regardless of the means for attaching to a cup, disposable drink-through dome lids presented in prior art can be can be grouped into three distinct types: those that provide a comparatively larger drink-through opening by means of a tear-back flap; those that provide a small drink-through opening positioned within a reservoir having a sidewall that aligns with the user&#39;s mouth; and those that provide a drink-through opening by means of a small preformed usually elongated opening intended to be enclosed by the user&#39;s mouth during consumption. 
   Each of these three types of drink-through lids has inherent advantages and disadvantages. The fold or tear-back flap permits the beverage to be mostly sealed within the cup while being transported prior to consumption. Additionally, the beverage is consumed in a manner most similar to drinking from a conventional drinking cup. However, once the flap has been opened, the cup cannot be easily moved about without risking spilling its contents. Since no provision is made for retaining the beverage that sloshes out through the opening, this type of disposable lid is not suitable for users wishing to consume their carry-out beverage while traveling. The second type of disposable drink-through lid addresses this problem by providing a reservoir which surrounds the drink-through opening. Beverage that sloshes out through the opening, is contained within the reservoir and eventually drains back into the cup. This feature arrests most spills that might otherwise occur while the cup is vertically placed within a moving vehicle. However, this lid is vulnerable to spills from the moment the beverage passes through the opening and prior to entering the user&#39;s mouth. Thus, if the user were to be jostled during that time, as when riding over a bump while sipping the beverage, the exposed contents would likely be ejected into the air resulting in a spill. For this reason, although this type of lid is improved for travel, neither are preferable for beverage consumption in a moving vehicle. 
   With many consumers on the go, carry-out beverages are more often than not intended to be consumed in moving vehicles. Disposable lids, of the kind that provide a seal between the user&#39;s mouth and the drink-through opening, have proven best suited for prevention of spills during consumption while traveling. This is based on the wide-spread acceptance of this type of lid used by take-out establishments. However, there are limitations with this type of drink-through dome lid which are addressed by the present invention. And with the growing consumption of beverages within moving vehicles, the need for these improvements has never been greater. Of greatest concern is the safety to the user behind the steering wheel. Besides the annoyance of soiling one&#39;s clothes, the sudden distraction resulting from a spill could result in an automobile accident. 
   Dome lids that provide means for a seal between the user&#39;s mouth and the drink-through opening have a number of concerns, the most important being that the beverage is vulnerable to spilling out through the drink-through opening when a relatively full cup is being jostled about. A second smaller hole is typically placed within the deepest point of a recess provided for the user&#39;s upper lip directly behind the drink-through opening so that spilled liquid caught in the recess can drain back into the cup. Even though the drain hole is relatively small, because of its proximity to the drinking hole, liquid having a low viscosity such as coffee can easily dribble out through this hole while the cup is being tilted for consumption. Also, a third equally small hole is recommended to alleviate the vacuum formed by the discharging liquid, but also provides another source for accidental spillage. It should be noted that other patents in related art have described this type of dome lid as having another inherent detriment. They are referring to the need to suck the liquid through the small drink-through opening in order to obtain the desired volume of beverage. However, the widespread acceptance of this type of lid would suggest that the need to suck the beverage from the container is not viewed by the user as an irritant nor a detriment. 
   The present invention provides improvements to this type of drink-through lid, namely those having a preformed drink-through opening intended to be enclosed by the user&#39;s mouth, by providing enhancements that minimize spillage from sloshing and enhancements in the contact between the lid and the user&#39;s mouth. With the proliferation of fast-food and carry-out beverage outlets geared to serve busy customers on the go, there is a growing need for a lid that further reduces accidental spills. Prevention of vehicle accidents is of paramount importance and presents a safety concern for the carry-out industry. But particularly annoying is the more frequent occurrence of spills resulting in the soiling of business attire while commuting to work or the soiling of evening attire while riding to an important social outing. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Two United States patents, illustrative of the two types of disposable dome lids outside the scope of the present invention, are suggested for reference: Van Melle U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,601 teaches a disposable dome lid with a fold or tear-back flap that forms a drink-through opening; and Bruce et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,112 teaches a disposable dome lid containing a reservoir that surrounds a drink-through opening. Clements and Clarke provide certain basic teachings of the features of disposable drink-through dome lids most pertinent to the present invention, namely those having a drink-through opening that is intended to be fully enclosed by the user&#39;s mouth during consumption of the beverage contained therein. 
   CLEMENTS U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,569 teaches disposable dome cup lids pertinent to the first and second principal embodiments of the present invention. Clements discloses a dome lid which is placed over the lip of a beverage cup, and which extends above the top of the cup so as to provide additional volume. A small punched drinking hole is located in an elevated annular ridge formed at the top of the cup lid. Even though elevated above the cup&#39;s lip, the drink-through opening may not preclude spillage due to jostling of the cup. Two other openings are described by Clements, one for draining spilled liquid and another for venting purposes. The introduction of these openings as taught by Clements introduces additional opportunities for spillage. Clements further describes a recess behind the drink-through opening intended for accommodating the user&#39;s upper lip, thereby forming an annular ridge about the drink-through opening. This ridge is intended to be sealed by the user&#39;s upper and lower lips yet Clements fails to address the means by which the user&#39;s upper and lower lips would best form a seal about the drink-through opening. 
   CLARKE U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,490 teaches a dome lid as taught by Clements with the introduction of a press-out tab formed outside the annular periphery of the lid during manufacturing. Clarke discloses means to prevent accidental spillage by providing an inexpensive and convenient method to plug the drink-through opening during times that the beverage is not being consumed. While this teaching provides novel means for sealing the drink-through opening, this method is likely to prove cumbersome for users who frequently sip their beverage while driving a vehicle. The tab must be repeatedly engaged and disengaged with every sip. Additionally, the procedure cannot be easily accomplished without the use of both hands, namely one hand to hold the cup while the other operates the tab. Furthermore, the addition of a tab suspended to one side of the lid may prove annoying to the immobile user who has no need for this feature. 
   Russo et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,905,044 &amp; 6,991,128 teach a dome lid as taught by Clements with the introduction of a recessed drinking opening. In order for a newly designed disposable drink-through lid to become a viable product, limitations inherent to the manufacturing process must be considered. Since disposable drink-through lids are typically formed from thermoplastic sheets using the vacuum-forming manufacturing process, the punching out of holes is a secondary operation that can only be performed after vacuum forming of the thermoplastic sheets. Drinking and vent holes along with the lid itself are punched out from the formed sheets. In order to be cost effective, all holes within the many lids formed within a single sheet, are punched out in a single die-punch operation using a motion normal (vertical) to the sheets. Many of the small holes within Russo&#39;s recessed drinking opening, referred to as apertures, would require being punched out with a horizontal motion, thus making Russo&#39;s invention prohibitively expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the embodiments to the drinking opening described by Russo will not accommodate a drinking straw. In many circumstances, consumers want to insert a drinking straw through the lid. Establishments that sell take-out coffee and other beverages would likely not purchase lids that are unable to take a drinking straw. 
   Two additional United States patents provide certain basic teachings that have some relevance to the present invention, yet which teach cup lids that are not otherwise suitable for purposes of the present invention. They are: 
   HORNER U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,880 discloses a splash resistant cup lid designed to prevent spills and splashes caused by beverage sloshing. Even though not of the dome type, Homer recognizes the dynamics of sloshing liquids and the benefit of vertical drink-through openings, a fundamental element addressed by the third principal embodiment of the present invention. Homer describes a lid having an opening that comes generally sealed by means of a raised canopy with drink-through slits that remain closed until the canopy is depressed into the lid causing the slits to open and becoming somewhat vertically positioned. Homer teaches that sloshed liquids have a vertical component to their motion with respect to the cup lid, and by creating vertical rather than horizontal drinking openings, much of the fluid will be deflected back into the cup. With Homer&#39;s invention the sloshed contents will generally impact upon the depressed canopy rather than exit through the slits. 
   VAN MELLE et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,781 discloses a dome lid with a raised volume-extending section and a drink-through spout above the upper surface of the volume-extending section. Van Melle attempts to overcome the disadvantages of prior art particularly in consideration of the accidental spillage of carry-out beverages in moving vehicles. The invention teaches spills due to sloshing are further reduced by elevating the drink-through opening above the volume-extending section. As effective as Van Melle&#39;s teaching may prove to be, it may not be preferred by the adult user in that drinking cups having lids with extended spouts are likely to be associated with non-disposable non-spill cups commonly designed for young children. This teaching is provided in the present invention since Van Melle recognizes the deficiency in the lid disclosed by Clements particularly the unsuitability of the lid&#39;s configuration surrounding the drink-through opening. Van Melle teaches that a generally rounded spout is more adaptable to the natural shape of the user&#39;s lips, therefore enabling the user to generate a liquid-tight seal with less effort. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, three independent principal embodiments are set forth for a disposable cup lid having a pre-formed drink-through opening that is intended to be enclosed by the user during consumption of the beverage contained therein. Even though independent, the preferred lid contains all three principal embodiments which are applied but not limited to a disposable cup lid most closely set forth in Clements&#39; U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,560. Clements&#39; patent in brief describes a lid that includes an annular mounting portion for engaging with the cup&#39;s lip, an annular side wall extending upwardly from the mounting portion, a top wall having a drink-through opening and a recess behind the opening to accommodate the upper lip of the user. A drain hole is placed within this recess to permit spilled liquid to drain back into the cup. Also a vent is placed in the top wall generally opposite the drink-through opening to alleviate the vacuum generated by consumption of the cup&#39;s contents through a sealed drink-through opening. 
   While Clements and others provide teachings to a lid that facilitates drinking from a disposable cup through an opening with minimal spillage, the present invention provides further improvements to that end. Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a lid which further reduces the risk of accidental spillage that often occurs when a user carries and consumes a beverage such as hot coffee in a moving vehicle. Another general object of the present invention is to provide a lid that preserves or even enhances the comfort and appeal provided to the user through its function and design as provided by Clements. Another general object of the present invention is to provide embodiments that are suitable for vacuum-forming planar sheets of thermoplastics material as is customary for manufacturing disposable drink-through dome lids. Another general object of the present invention is to provide embodiments that permit the nesting of stacked lids to facilitate boxing for shipment and storage. A specific object of the present invention is to improve the ease of the user to orient his or her mouth to the drink-through opening within the lid while engaged in another activity such as driving a vehicle, by using tactile means rather than visual means. Another specific object is to improve the ease for the user to obtain a liquid-tight seal between the user&#39;s lips and the portion of the lid surrounding the drink-through opening. Another specific object is to improve the comfort for the user between the user&#39;s lips and the portion of the lid surrounding the drink-through opening. Another specific object of the present invention is to minimize spillage through the drink-through opening when the liquid within a relatively full cup sloshes within the cup, as is often the case while being transported within a moving vehicle. Another specific object of the present invention is to eliminate the possibility of spillage through the drain hole when the cup is tilted for consuming its contents. Another specific object of the present invention is to eliminate the possibility of spillage through the vent hole when liquid within a relatively full cup sloshes within the cup, as is often the case while being transported within a moving vehicle. 
   The first principal embodiment introduces improvements to the annular top surrounding the drink-through opening as taught by Clements. By reconfiguring a portion of the drink-through opening surrounding the lid to a shape that is more adapted to the user&#39;s lips, the present invention provides the means for the user to create a superior seal when applying his or her mouth to the lid. Not only is the seal improved, but the present invention provides a lid that is both visually appealing and more comfortable to the user&#39;s lips. Furthermore, this embodiment enables the user to more readily locate the drink-through opening by tactile contact with his or her lips, thus enabling the cup to be properly oriented for drinking without first having to make visual contact. This feature becomes beneficial when the user is visually distracted such as when driving a moving vehicle. 
   By introducing the means to combine the vent and drain holes, the second principal embodiment is provided. Clements rightfully discloses the need for both drain and vent holes, as well as the need to slope the described recess towards the drink-through opening in order to prevent over-stretching of the thermo-plastic material. Clements further suggests that the drain hole for the described recess be placed at its lowest point. However, because of the sloping within the Clements&#39; described recess, the deepest point unfortunately is directly behind the drink-through opening. The present invention introduces means that enable the drain hole to be relocated away from the drink-through opening yet still remain within the recess taught by Clements. In doing so, the drain hole ceases to be a source for accidental spills, and can also serve the venting purpose thereby eliminating the need for a separate vent hole. 
   The third principal embodiment provides an improvement to all drink-through disposable dome lids having a generally oval-shaped drink-through opening. The present invention provides the means to restrict accidental spillage due to sloshing through the drink-through opening, which often occurs when a generally full cup is being transported within a moving vehicle. Additionally, the preferred embodiment includes the means to facilitate the full volume of liquid to flow into the users mouth when the cup is tilted in a conventional manner. Rather than further elevating the drink-through opening as taught by Van Melle, the third principal embodiment introduces an internal protective barrier that surrounds the drink-through opening thereby inhibiting spillage that would otherwise result from sloshing of the cup&#39;s contents. In its preferred configuration the embodiment does not impede the flow of beverage during consumption and permits the cup&#39;s entire contents to be emptied into the user&#39;s mouth. These means are achieved by providing a multiple of contiguous openings within the barrier having both vertical and horizontal components. 
   All three principal embodiments, their preferred configurations and as well as the objects of the present invention, will become apparent from the following descriptions and the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The basic elements comprising the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention will be better understood from the following drawings. Whereas the preferred configurations of the improvements relating to the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it should be realized that the preferred embodiments are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the disposable dome lid with all of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating the disposable dome lid with all of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional fragmentary side view illustrating the disposable dome lid with all of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary top view illustrating the preferred configuration of the third principal embodiment prior to stamping the drink-through opening. 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view illustrating the preferred configuration of the third principal embodiment prior to stamping the drink-through opening. 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cut-away perspective view illustrating the preferred configuration of the third principal embodiment prior to stamping the drink-through opening. 
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary top view illustrating the preferred configuration of the third principal embodiment subsequent to stamping the drink-through opening. 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view illustrating the preferred configuration of the third principal embodiment subsequent to stamping the drink-through opening. 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary cut-away perspective view illustrating the preferred configuration of the third principal embodiment subsequent to stamping the drink-through opening. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  illustrates all three principal embodiments with the preferred configuration of the present invention  10 . For disposable lids of the drink-through dome type that incorporate the first or second principal embodiment, lid  10  forms a substantially planar annular top wall  11  bounded on its outer perimeter by an annular outer sidewall  12  sloping downwardly and outwardly, and on its inner perimeter by an annular inner sidewall  13  sloping downwardly and inwardly, with both perimeters being substantially concentric to one another. A primary recess  14  is bounded by the arcuate portion of annular inner sidewall  13  and further defined by two substantially planar surfaces  15  &amp;  16 , with a bottom wall  15  gently sloping upwardly and inwardly from the arcuate portion of annular interior sidewall  13  and terminating at a interior sidewall  16 . Interior sidewall  16  continues to slope upwardly and inwardly at a substantially steeper angle than bottom wall  15 , where it terminates at an inner top wall  17 . In the preferred configuration, inner top wall  17  is recessed slightly below annular top wall  11  with both being generally planar and parallel to one another. As taught by Clements, primary recess  14  accommodates the upper lip of the user by deepening annular inner sidewall  13  at a drink-through opening  18 . The lower lip of the user is also accommodated by sufficiently raising outer sidewall  12  so the user&#39;s lower lip generally clears a mounting portion  19  formed at or near the base of outer sidewall  12  in order to affix the lid to a drinking cup. 
   Best visualized in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , the first principal embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of secondary recesses  20  sloping downwardly and inwardly within annular top wall  11 , that are positioned on each side of the drink-through opening  18  generally at the two locations where the user&#39;s upper lip would make contact with the edge otherwise formed by the intersection of annular inner sidewall  13  and annular top wall  11 . The pair of secondary recesses  20  results in the narrowing of annular top wall  11  at two locations  21  thereby providing an improved configuration surrounding drink-through opening  18 . Each secondary recess  20  forms a pair of sidewalls  22   a  &amp;  22   b  that slope downwardly and towards one another from annular top wall  11  thereby permitting the nested stacking of lid  10 . Both sidewalls  22   a  being shaped and separated by drink-through opening  18  such that lid  10  conforms most effectively and comfortably with the user&#39;s upper lip. Visual symmetry within each secondary recess  20  is provided by mirroring the best suited curvature of sidewalls  22   a  in the shaping of sidewalls  22   b.    
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , dome lids of this type prior to the second principal embodiment of the present invention, typically required two additional openings: a vent hole  31  usually positioned within inner top wall  17 ; and a drain hole  32  positioned at the lowest level in primary recess  14  which was adjacent to drink-through opening  18 . In this invention, vent hole  31  and drain hole  32  are effectively replaced by drain/vent hole  30  within primary recess  14 . By including a recessed channel  33  within bottom wall  15 , hole  30  can be effectively distanced from the drinking hole  18 . Channel  33  initiates at the lowest point of annular inner sidewall  13  and terminates at interior sidewall  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , channel  33  slopes downwardly and inwardly within the inversely sloping bottom wall  15 . Drain/vent hole  30  positioned at the lowest level within channel  33 , drains liquid trapped by primary recess  14  back into the cup without becoming submerged when the cup is tilted in a normal manner for drinking, thereby eliminating a source for spillage. Additionally, hole  30  is able to reliably vent air into the cup during beverage consumption thereby eliminating the need for vent hole  31  and another source for spillage. In its preferred configuration, channel  33  is sized sufficiently small in relation to primary recess  14  so that loss of volume by its inclusion within dome lid  10  becomes inconsequential. In order to visually blend channel  33  into primary recess  14 , as most clearly visible in  FIG. 1 , the intersection of channel  33  and bottom wall  15  preferably have softened edges  34 . 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in order to substantially restrict spillage through drink opening  18  caused by a sloshing beverage such as coffee within a cup being jostled about, a baffle  40  is formed downwardly from the perimeter of the drink-through opening  18 , thereby providing the third principal embodiment of the present invention. While it will be understood that baffle  40  of the present invention may be configured in a number of effective ways to a variety of drink-through dome lids, a description will now be given that presents one effective manner of taking full advantage of the various features of the invention. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  &amp;  6 , in its preferred configuration the entrance to drink-through opening  18  is defined by a pair of parallel straight edges, inner edge  50  and outer edge  51 , which are enclosed at each end by a pair of full radius edges  52 . During the molding of lid  10 , a fully sealed cavity  41  forms from edges  50 ,  51  &amp;  52  extending downwardly and sloping inwardly upon itself. An inwardly facing depression  43  forms in the side of cavity  41  closest to outer sidewall  12  thereby increasing the slope of cavity  41  at that location to that of approaching vertical and provides a protrusion into the center of cavity  41  as seen most clearly in  FIG. 5 . The purpose of depression  43  will become apparent in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  &amp;  9  where the stamping of drink-through opening  18  into cavity  41  can be viewed providing useful opening portions that could not otherwise be formed. 
   Stamping of drink-through openings is a common secondary process subsequent to vacuum-formation of thermoplastic material. The stamping process consists of a vertically moving hardened metallic die impacting upon a softer metallic receiving surface with the thermoplastic material being supported by the receiving surface during the cutting process. In prior art, the manufacturing of disposable dome lids taught or implied the stamping of the drink-through openings with a planar or 2-dimensional cut. Thus, the suggested receiving surface used in die cutting was flat and the shape of the drinking hole stamped into the thermoplastic material was planar. The present invention introduces a stamped drinking hole incorporating a 3-dimensional shape. The formed thermo-plastic material is supported by matching the die&#39;s receiving surface to the 3-dimensional surface surrounding the underside of cavity  43 . The preferred drink-through opening  18  set forth herein is created by placing a hole within the die&#39;s receiving surface that matches the footprint of opening  42  as seen in  FIG. 7 , and by providing a razor-sharp die that mates with and passes through the hole during the stamping operation. Understandably, the initial cost of the tooling used in performing the proposed stamping, is higher than that used in making a planar cut hole. However, since the steps used in production and post-production remain unchanged, the manufacturing costs are similar making the initial cost insignificant in high volume production. 
   In the suggested pattern shown in  FIGS. 2 &amp; 7 , drink-through opening  18  when viewed from above generally appears in the shape of a cross having a footprint significantly smaller than that of a conventional drink-through hole suggested by perimeter defined by edges  50 - 52 . But when viewed in perspective as in  FIG. 9 , the full benefit of the 3-dimensionally stamped hole can be realized with the stamping of cavity  41  resulting in the formation the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7 ,  8  &amp;  9 , the preferred shape of the stamped drink-through opening  18  is comprised of several contiguous openings, achieving these over-all benefits: to permit the full volume of liquid to pass through the drink-through opening  18  as if no baffle  40  were present; to enhance the effectiveness of baffle  40  in deflecting most of sloshing liquid away from drink-through opening  18 ; to allow the remainder of an almost empty cup to pass through the drink-through opening; and to permit the insertion of up to a 5/16″ drinking straw. The full benefits of the preferred drink-through opening  18  can be best understood by comparing views  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 , which illustrate the means whereby a beverage is able to effectively pass through unimpeded during consumption while being substantially shielded when sloshed. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , an inverted “V”-shaped opening  44 , formed from stamping depression  43  below outer edge  51  extends upwardly to form a small slotted opening  45 . Beginning mostly vertical and ending mostly horizontal, slotted opening  45  provides the means for the remnants of the cup&#39;s contents to flow through baffle  40  when the cup is tilted in a normal manner. The inverted “V” opening  44  being wide at its base and substantially vertically oriented as shown in  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 , is able to permit a relatively large volume of liquid to pass through while under pressure as is the case when the cup is tilted for drinking. Yet inverted “V” opening  44  remains virtually hidden when looking directly down into the drink-through opening  18  as seen in  FIG. 7 . Thus, sloshing liquid having a generally vertical motion will be substantially deflected by baffle  40  prior to entering opening  44 , thereby preventing an accidental spill. 
   Formed from stamping the planar surface of baffle  40  extending below inner edge  50 , a slotted opening  46  is cut vertically downward to the bottom and is positioned directly opposite slotted opening  45 , with both slotted openings  45  &amp;  46  being generally of equal width. Openings  44  &amp;  46  merge with the last slotted opening  42  stamped into the bottom of baffle  40 , thereby joining all opening portions to form drink-through opening  18 . The merging of opening  44  with  42  and opening  46  with  42  creates four flaps  47  capable of folding outward thereby permitting the insertion of a drinking straw through drink-through opening  18 . Furthermore, the four flaps  47  served to stabilize and partially seal the inserted drinking straw within drink-through opening  18  regardless of the diameter of the drinking straw being used. 
   The effectiveness of baffle  40  can be further improved by an increased depth of cavity  41  formed during molding as measured by its downwardly extension from annular top wall  11  shown in  FIG. 5 . However, the depth of cavity  41  is limited by the physical characteristics of the thermoplastic material which thins while forming into the downward extension. To a certain extent, thinning of the material within cavity  41  is desirable. When a drinking straw is inserted through the drink-through opening  18 , the flaps  47  should be sufficiently flexible to fold outward without collapsing the straw. Material strength is not a consideration for deflecting liquids sloshing within the cup, however, the material forming cavity  41  cannot be so weak that baffle  40  collapses in upon itself while the user sucks liquid through drink-through opening  18 . 
   It will thus be seen the present invention provides a new and improved drink-through disposable dome lid having a number of advantages and characteristics, including those pointed out herein and others which are inherent in the invention. Whereas the invention illustrates and describes several preferred embodiments, it is anticipated that modifications to the described forms of product will occur to those skilled in the art and that such modification and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims that follow.