Abstract:
A package includes a cup for storing liquids and a lid for mounting on a brim of the cup. The lid is formed to include a sipping feature so that a consumer can drink liquid from the cup while the lid is mounted on the brim.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/068,320, filed Oct. 24, 2014, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to drink cups, and particularly to lids for drink cups. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a lid formed to include a liquid-discharge outlet through which a consumer can sip a beverage contained in a drink cup carrying the lid. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to the present disclosure, a liquid container comprises a lid adapted to mate with the brim of a cup. The lid is formed to include a liquid-discharge outlet communicating with an interior region formed in the cup when the lid is mounted on the brim of the cup so that consumers can drink liquid stored in the cup and expelled through the liquid-discharge outlet formed in the lid while the lid is mounted on the brim of the cup. 
         [0004]    In illustrative embodiments, the lid includes a central closure formed to include the liquid-discharge outlet and a ring-shaped brim mount arranged to surround the central closure. The brim mount of the lid is configured to mate with the brim of the cup to hold the central closure in a stationary position closing a cup mouth opening into the interior region of the cup and placing the liquid-discharge outlet in fluid communication with any liquid stored in the interior region of the cup. 
         [0005]    In illustrative embodiments, the lid further includes an outlet closure mounted for pivotable movement about a pivot axis between a closed position closing the liquid-discharge outlet and an opened position opening the liquid-discharge outlet. The outlet closure is arranged to pivot through an angle of about 150°-180° as it moves from the closed position to the opened position. 
         [0006]    In illustrative embodiments, the central closure includes an upstanding drink spout including a generally flat top wall formed to include the liquid-discharge outlet and a side wall depending from the top wall and including a forwardly facing front wall. The generally flat top wall is also formed to include a top aperture arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to the liquid-discharge outlet and between the liquid-discharge outlet and the forwardly facing front wall. The outlet closure includes a closure-anchor lug that is sized and arranged to extend downwardly through the top aperture formed in the top wall into a lug-receiving cavity defined by a closure retainer coupled to the top wall to retain the outlet closure in the closed position at the option of a consumer. 
         [0007]    Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lid in accordance with the present disclosure and a cup before the lid is mounted on the cup and showing that the lid includes a ring-shaped brim mount adapted to mate with the brim of the cup, a central closure surrounded by the brim mount and formed to include an upstanding drink spout, and an outlet closure mounted for pivotable movement between an outlet-closing position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and an outlet-opening position shown in  FIGS. 1A and 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a portion of the lid of  FIG. 1  showing the outlet closure after it has been pivoted in a forward direction about a horizontal pivot axis to an outlet-opening position and to cause a nose-shaped closure-anchor lug included in the outlet closure to extend downwardly through a top aperture formed in the upwardly facing top wall into an upwardly opening lug-receiving cavity aligned with the top aperture and defined by a closure retainer coupled to the top wall and included in the upstanding drink spout that is shown in  FIG. 1  to mate with interior side walls defining the lug-receiver cavity so that the outlet closure is retained temporarily in the outlet-opening position shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the lid of  FIG. 1  showing the outlet closure in the closed position and showing that the top aperture formed in the top wall of the drink spout and aligned with the lug-receiving cavity is located between the liquid-discharge outlet and the serpentine-shaped forwardly facing front wall of the drink spout; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is an enlarged partial top plan view of the lid of  FIG. 2  showing the outlet closure in the closed position and showing the top aperture formed in the generally horizontal top wall of the drink spout and the four cavity side walls and floor that cooperate to define the lug-receiving cavity aligned with the top aperture formed in the top wall; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the outlet closure retained in the outlet-opening position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is an enlarged view similar to  FIG. 2A  showing that the liquid-discharge outlet formed in the top wall of the drink spout has been opened in response to pivoting movement of the outlet closure to the outlet-opening position in which the nose-shaped closure-anchor lug of the outlet closure is extended through the top aperture formed in the top wall and into the underlying lug-receiving cavity formed in the closure retainer that is coupled to the underside of the top wall of the drink spout; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of the lid shown in  FIG. 2  showing the outlet closure in the outlet-closing position to cause the nose-shaped closure anchor of the outlet closure to extend upwardly away from the generally horizontal top wall of the upstanding drink spout; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a view similar to  FIG. 4A  showing the orientation of the outlet closure during pivoting movement of the outlet closure from the outlet-closing position shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4A  to the outlet-opening position shown in  FIGS. 1A, 3, and 4C ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4C  is a view similar to  FIGS. 4A and 4B  showing the orientation of the outlet closure upon arrival at the outlet-opening position shown in  FIGS. 1A and 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lid in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure and a cup before the lid is mounted on the cup and showing that the lid includes a ring-shaped brim mount adapted to mate with the brim of the cup, a central closure surrounded by the brim mount and formed to include an upstanding drink spout, and an outlet closure mounted for pivotable movement between an outlet-closing position shown in  FIG. 5  and an outlet-opening position shown in  FIG. 5A ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a portion of the lid of  FIG. 5  showing the outlet closure after it has been pivoted in a forward direction about a horizontal pivot axis to an outlet-opening position and to cause a nose-shaped closure-anchor lug included in the outlet closure to extend downwardly through a top aperture formed in the upwardly facing top wall into an upwardly opening lug-receiving cavity aligned with the top aperture and defined by a closure retainer coupled to the top wall and included in the upstanding drink spout that is shown in  FIG. 5  to mate with interior side walls defining the lug-receiver cavity so that the outlet closure is retained temporarily in the outlet-opening position shown in  FIG. 5A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    A liquid container  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cup  12  and a lid  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Lid  14  includes a central closure  16  formed to include a liquid-discharge outlet  164 , a pivotable outlet closure  17 , and brim mount  18  coupled to central closure  16  and configured to be mounted on a brim  20  of cup  12  to arrange central closure  16  to close a cup mouth  21  opening into an interior region  25  formed in cup  12  as suggested in  FIG. 1 . Lid  14  is made of, for example, polystyrene, polypropylene, or polyethylene using a thermoforming process or other suitable process in illustrative embodiments. 
         [0021]    A liquid container  210  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . Liquid container  210  includes cup  12  and a lid  214  adapted to be mounted on brim  20  of cup  12 . The shape of lid  214  is very similar to the shape of lid  14  as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . 
         [0022]    Central closure  16  includes a drink spout  160  including a generally horizontal top wall  162  and a closure retainer  168  coupled to an underside of top wall  162  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 4A . Top wall  162  is formed to include a liquid-discharge outlet  164  and a top aperture  165  opening into a lug-receiving cavity  168 C formed in closure retainer  168  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 1A . Drink spout  160  also includes a side wall  166  extending around a perimeter edge of top wall  162  and including a forwardly facing front wall  166 F arranged to extend downwardly from a front edge of top wall  162 . The top aperture  165  is formed in top wall  162  to lie in a position that is located between liquid-discharge outlet  164  and the forwardly facing front wall  166 F as suggested in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    Outlet closure  17  is mounted on central closure  16  for pivotable movement about pivot axis  17 A between a closed position closing liquid-discharge outlet  164  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and an opened position opening liquid-discharge outlet  164  and mating with the closure retainer  168  provided under top wall  162  of drink spout  160  to retain outlet closure  17  in an opened position as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 3, and 3A . It is within the scope of this disclosure to add one or more rigidifying features to top wall  162  in a region near closure retainer  168  to minimize unwanted deflection of top wall  162  during mating engagement of outlet closure  17  and closure retainer  168 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , cup  12  includes a brim  20 , a floor  22 , and a side wall  24  extending upwardly from floor  22  to brim  20 . Side wall  24  and floor  22  cooperate to form interior region  25  of cup  12 . It is within the scope of this disclosure to make cup  12  out of any suitable plastics, paper, or other material(s). 
         [0025]    In an illustrative embodiment, a consumer can drink liquid stored in cup  12  while lid  14  remains mounted on the brim  20  of cup  12  through the opened liquid-discharge outlet  164  formed in lid  14  after the consumer has pivoted outlet closure  17  to an opened position. In an illustrative embodiment, central closure  16  of lid  14  includes an upstanding drink spout  160  formed to include liquid-discharge outlet  164 . Drink spout  160  is adapted to be received in the mouth of a consumer desiring to drink a liquid stored in cup  12  once outlet closure  17  has been moved to an opened position. 
         [0026]    Central closure  16  rises upwardly above brim mount  20  and includes an upstanding ridge  140  that is located inside a front semicircular portion  20 F of brim mount  20  and a drink spout  160  that is formed to include a high-elevation liquid-discharge outlet  164  and is located inside a rear semicircular portion  20 R of brim mount  20  in spaced-apart confronting relation to ridge  140  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Any liquid stored in interior region  25  of cup  12  is in fluid communication with the liquid-discharge outlet  164  formed in the generally horizontal top wall  162  of the upstanding drink spout  160  as suggested in  FIG. 1 . Each of the upstanding drink spout  160  and ridge  140  is somewhat crescent-shaped in an illustrative embodiment as shown, for example, in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0027]    In illustrative embodiments, upstanding drink spout  160 , ridge  140 , and a concave football-shaped basin floor  150  located between drink spout  160  and ridge  140  cooperate to form an elevated basin  16 B included in central closure  16  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The football-shaped basin floor  150  is substantially flat in an illustrative embodiment and lies between a forwardly facing front wall  166 F of the crescent-shaped drink spout  160  and a rearwardly facing concave rear wall  140 R of the crescent-shaped ridge  140 . Floor  30 F of ring-shaped low-elevation liquid-retention channel  30  surrounds ridge  140 , basin floor  150 , and drink spout  160  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0028]    Outlet closure  17  includes an annular closure plate  171 , an upstanding nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  172  coupled to an inner edge of annular closure plate  171 , and a hinge  173  coupled to a forwardly facing segment of an outer edge of annular closure plate  171  and to drink spout  160  along horizontally extending pivot axis  17 A as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Annular closure plate  171  is a flange coupled to a lower edge of upstanding nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  172  and arranged to extend outwardly therefrom to lie in substantially coplanar relation to top wall  162  of drink spout  160  when outlet closure  17  occupies the closed position as suggested in  FIG. 3 . Lid  14  is thermoformed to position outlet closure  17  normally in the closed position in an illustrative embodiment. It is within the scope of this disclosure to provide closure-anchor lug  172  with any suitable shape so long as it is retained by closure retainer  168  in an opened position as disclosed herein. 
         [0029]    Closure retainer  168  is formed to include an upwardly facing lug-receiving cavity  168 C that is sized to receive the tip of the nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  172  of outlet closure  17  therein when outlet closure  17  is pivoted by the user to the opened position shown in  FIG. 1A . Lug-receiving cavity  168 C is bounded by an endless series of four cavity side walls  168 S 1 ,  168 S 2 ,  168 S 3 , and  168 S 4  and a generally horizontal floor  168 F coupled to lower edges of each of the cavity side walls  168 S 1 - 4  as suggested in  FIG. 2A . These cavity side walls cooperate to define interference-fit means for temporarily retaining the nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  172  of outlet closure  17  in lug-receiving cavity  168  upon movement of outlet closure  17  to the opened position shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3 and 3A . It is within the scope of the present disclosure to vary the shape of lug-receiving cavity  168  and bordering portions of top wall  162  to rigidify or reinforce lug-receiving cavity  168  to minimize deformation of lug-receiving cavity  168  and a surrounding border region during insertion of nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  172  into lug-receiving cavity  168 C. 
         [0030]    A drink cup lid  14  includes a ring-shaped brim mount  18  adapted to mate with a brim  20  of a drink cup  12  and a central closure  16  surrounded by brim mount  20  and formed to include an upstanding drink spout  160  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The upstanding drink spout  160  has a top wall  162  formed to include a liquid-discharge outlet  164  and an adjacent top aperture  165 . Drink spout  160  also has a side wall  166  arranged to extend downwardly from top wall  162  toward an interior region surrounded by the ring-shaped brim mount  20  as suggested in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    Drink cup lid  14  further includes an outlet closure  17  and a closure retainer  168  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Outlet closure  17  is coupled to the upstanding drink spout  160  for movement about a horizontally extending pivot axis  17 A between a closed position closing the liquid-discharge outlet  164  formed in top wall  162  of the upstanding drink spout  160  as shown in  FIG. 1  and an opened position away from the liquid-discharge outlet  164  as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0032]    Outlet closure  17  includes an annular closure plate  171 , an upstanding nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  172  coupled to an inner edge of annular closure plate  171 , and a hinge  173  coupled to annular closure plate  171  and to drink spout  160  and configured to establish horizontal pivot axis  17 A. Hinge  173  is coupled to a portion of upstanding drink spout  160  along a junction provided between top aperture  165  and liquid-discharge outlet  164  as suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 2A . 
         [0033]    Outlet closure  17  includes a nose-shaped closure anchor lug  172  configured to mate with closure retainer  168  and remain in a stationary position relative to central closure  16  upon movement of outlet closure  17  to the opened position as suggested in  FIGS. 1A, 3, and 3A . Closure retainer  168  is coupled to top wall  162  and is formed to include a forwardly facing lug-receiving cavity  168 C and side walls  168 S 1 - 4  as suggested in  FIG. 2A  that cooperate to provide detent means for retaining a tip  172 T of nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  172  in lug-receiving cavity  168 C upon movement of outlet closure  17  to the opened position as suggested in  FIGS. 3, 3A, and 4C . 
         [0034]    Side wall  166  of the upstanding drink spout  160  includes an upstanding front wall  166 F appended to a front edge of top wall  162  and an upstanding rear wall  166 R appended to a rear edge of top wall  162  to locate top wall  162  and its liquid-discharge outlet  164  and top aperture  165  between the rear and front walls  166 R,  166 F. The rear and top walls  166 R,  162  cooperate to define sipper means for extending into the mouth of a consumer desiring to drink a liquid stored in a cup  12  mated with the ring-shaped brim mount  18  through the liquid-discharge outlet  164  once outlet closure  17  has been moved to the opened position. Rear wall  166 R has a convex shape and the front wall  166 F has a serpentine shape as suggested in  FIG. 2 . Outlet closure  17  is mounted for pivotable movement through an angle of about 150°-170° about pivot axis  17 A between a closed position closing the liquid-discharge outlet  164  and an opened position opening the liquid-discharge outlet  164  and mating with a closure retainer  168  formed in central closure  16  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0035]    A liquid container  20  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cup  12  and a lid  214  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . Lid  214  includes a central closure  216  formed to include a liquid-discharge outlet  364 , a pivotable outlet closure  217 , and brim mount  218  coupled to central closure  216  and configured to be mounted on a brim  20  of cup  12  to arrange central closures  216  to close a cup mouth  21  opening into an interior region  25  formed in cup  12  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0036]    Central closure  216  includes a drink spout  360  including a generally horizontal top wall  362  and a closure retainer  368  coupled to an underside of top wall  362  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Top wall  362  is formed to include a liquid-discharge outlet  364  and a top aperture  365  opening into a lug-receiving cavity  368 C formed in closure retainer  368  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Drink spout  360  also includes a side wall  366  extending around a perimeter edge of top wall  362  and including a forwardly facing front wall  366 F arranged to extend downwardly from a front edge of top wall  362  and a rearwardly facing rear wall  366 R arranged to extend downwardly from a rear edge of top wall  362 . The top aperture  365  is formed in top wall  362  to lie in a position that is located between liquid-discharge outlet  364  and the forwardly facing front wall  366 F as suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0037]    Outlet closure  217  is mounted on central closure  216  for pivotable movement about pivot axis  217 A between a closed position closing liquid-discharge outlet  364  as shown in  FIG. 5  and an opened position opening liquid-discharge outlet  364  and mating with the closure retainer  368  provided under top wall  362  of drink spout  360  to retain outlet closure  217  in an opened position as shown in  FIG. 5A . Drink spout  360  is adapted to be received in the mouth of a consumer desiring to drink a liquid stored in cup  12  once outlet closure  217  has been moved to an opened position. 
         [0038]    Central closures  216  rises upwardly above brim mount  220  and includes an upstanding ridge  340  that is located inside a front semicircular portion  220 F of brim mount  220  and a drink spout  360  that is formed to include a high-elevation liquid-discharge outlet  364  and is located inside a rear semicircular portion  220 R of brim mount  220  in spaced-apart confronting relation to ridge  340  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Any liquid stored in interior region  25  of cup  12  is in fluid communication with the liquid-discharge outlet  364  formed in the generally horizontal top wall  362  of the upstanding drink spout  360  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0039]    In illustrative embodiments, upstanding drink spout  360 , ridge  340 , and a concave football-shaped basin floor  350  located between drink spout  360  and ridge  340  cooperate to form an elevated basin  216 B included in central closure  216  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . The football-shaped basin floor  350  is somewhat bowl-shaped and lies between a forwardly facing front wall  366 F of the crescent-shaped drink spout  360  and a rearwardly facing concave rear wall  340 R of the crescent-shaped ridge  340 . Floor  230 F of ring-shaped low-elevation liquid-retention channel  230  surrounds ridge  340 , basin floor  350 , and drink spout  360  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0040]    Outlet closure  217  includes an annular closure plate  371 , an upstanding nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  372  coupled to an inner edge of annular closure plate  371 , and a hinge  373  coupled to a forwardly facing segment of an outer edge of annular closure plate  371  and to drink spout  360  along horizontally extending pivot axis  217 A as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . Annular closure plate  371  is a flange coupled to a lower edge of upstanding nose-shaped closure-anchor lug  372  and arranged to extend outwardly therefrom to lie in substantially coplanar relation to top wall  362  of drink spout  360  when outlet closure  217  occupies the closed position as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Lid  214  is thermoformed to position outlet closure  217  normally in the closed position in an illustrative embodiment.