Abstract:
A germ-free beverage lid system; a protective covering specially designed for the plastic lids that are used for beverages sold in coffee house chains, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and similar outlets. The intent is to provide a more hygienic means of offering these type of lids to consumers, helping to create a sterile cup lid to stop the spread of germs and bacteria.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/639,316, filed Apr. 27, 2012 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of beverage cup lids and more specifically relates to a germ-free beverage lid system. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Many individuals drink beverages from cans, bottles or other similar containers. While many may grab a canned or bottled drink, a lot of people prefer a cup of fresh brewed coffee or the syrupy sweetness of a fountain soda. Today, these types of beverages in many establishments are largely self-serve: you get your own cup from a dispenser, fill it with a drink of choice, and grab a lid to secure the contents. Although convenient, such drink stations, used by so many people during the course of the day, can harbor germs and bacteria. The lids, especially, are continuously exposed; left completely uncovered unlike cups, the plastic lids are susceptible to all manners of swirling contaminants, whether dust, dirt, or even sneezes. Furthermore, as many hands are reaching for these lids every day, there is no telling what kinds of germs and sickness may be left behind on these lids. Even the lids kept behind service counters are not completely safe, since cashiers and baristas are not able to wash their hands after every cash transaction. It is desirable to have clean, germ-free lids for covering beverage cups. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,616 to Baker; U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,832 to Gabele; and U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0022674 to Thurk et al. This prior art is representative of beverage lids. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, a germ-free beverage lid system should provide a germ-free drinking cup lid and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable germ-free beverage lid system to provide drinking cup lids with a germ-free drinking surface to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known beverage cup lids art, the present invention provides a novel germ-free beverage lid system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a germ-free lid for a disposable cup. 
     A germ-free beverage lid system is disclosed in a preferred embodiment comprising: a cup lid assembly having a cup lid to frictionally and sealably fit about a circumference of a drinking edge of a disposable cup, and a detachable germ-free cover for uncoupling from the cup lid. 
     The cup lid comprises in combination a lid-body, a bottom circumferential edge located on the lid-body with the bottom circumferential edge defining the outer limits of a bottom surface of the cup lid located adjacent the disposable cup when coupled thereto. The cup lid further comprises a top circumferential edge located on a top surface of the cup lid and a distance apart from the bottom circumferential edge, and a lid opening allowing for drinking the contents of the disposable cup to occur. The lid opening traverses the bottom surface and the top surface of the cup lid with the top surface providing a drinking access for a consumer to drink the contents of the disposable cup therefrom. 
     The cup lid is circular to fit onto the drinking edge of a disposable cup and provides a mouth contoured surface comprised of BPA-free plastic to help contain the contents of the disposable cup. The detachable germ-free cover comprises in combination a pliable surface to cover the top surface of the lid-body of the cup lid, an attaching edge removably attached to the top circumferential edge of the cup lid, and a pull tab. The detachable germ-free cover of the cup lid assembly is preferably removably attached to the cup lid via pressure when manufactured. The detachable germ-free cover covers the lid opening of the cup lid maintaining a sterile environment for the cup lid creating a closed and evacuated zone to prevent germs from entering the contents of the disposable cup until after the detachable germ-free cover is removed from the cup lid. To help keep contents of the disposable cup at a desired temperature the evacuated zone resists heat transfer through the lid into the ambient environment. The detachable germ-free cover comprises a thin profile to provide pliability and flexibility when ‘peeling back’ and removing the detachable germ-free cover from the cup lid. This peeling motion is accomplished by using a lifting force and a pulling force imparted thereon to remove the detachable germ-free cover from the top circumferential edge of the cup lid. The detachable germ-free cover covers the lid opening of the cup lid to prevent germs from entering the contents of the disposable cup until after the detachable germ-free cover is removed from the cup lid. 
     Prior to use, the cup lid assembly is stackable such that it is convenient for use by retail venders, hospitals and consumers at self-serve locations providing hot and cold beverages in disposable cups requiring a cup lid. A consumer is able to place the cup lid assembly on the disposable cup. The detachable germ-free cover is able to be removed from the cup lid immediately prior to consuming the contents to preserve a germ-free environment on the cup lid thereby promoting healthful consumption. The cup lid is not exposed to germs until the detachable germ-free cover is removed from the top circumferential edge of the cup lid by using the pull tab to manipulate the detachable germ-free cover from a closed to an open position by peeling it back and away from the cup lid. While in use, the top surface of the cup lid is located above the bottom surface of the cup lid. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a germ-free beverage lid system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, germ-free beverage lid system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a germ-free beverage lid system in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a cup lid being placed on a disposable cup according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a germ-free beverage lid system showing a detachable germ-free cover being removed from a cup lid according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use of the germ-free beverage lid system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a beverage cup lid device and more particularly to a germ-free beverage lid system as used to improve the ability for a consumer to have a germ-free lid for a disposable cup. 
     Generally speaking, many retail outlets such as fast food restaurants, hospital cafeterias, and convenience stores associated with gas stations sell beverages in disposable cups with a cup lid. In some cases the vendor places a lid on the disposable cup and in other cases a consumer may fill a disposable cup with a beverage and retrieve a cup lid from a stack of lids that are stored in an open environment subject to environmental problems such as germs, bacteria, dust, and other consumers touching the cup lid and replacing it to the stack they retrieved it from. In all of these circumstances the cup lid is especially susceptible to foreign particles and creates an unhealthy situation. These consumers would prefer to have access to a germ free cup lid such as the one described hereinafter. 
     Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating germ-free beverage lid system  100  in an in-use condition  150  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Germ-free beverage lid system  100  preferably comprises cup lid assembly  110  having cup lid  112  to frictionally and sealably fit about a circumference of drinking edge  158  of disposable cup  155 , and detachable germ-free cover  130  for uncoupling from cup lid  112 . Cup lid  112  comprises in combination lid-body  116 , bottom circumferential edge  118  located on lid-body  116  with bottom circumferential edge  118  defining the outer limits of bottom surface  120  of cup lid  112  located adjacent disposable cup  155  when coupled thereto. Cup lid  112  further comprises top circumferential edge  122  (located on top surface  124  of cup lid  112  and a distance apart from bottom circumferential edge  118 ), and lid opening  126  allowing for drinking the contents of disposable cup  155  to occur. Lid opening  126  traverses bottom surface  120  and top surface  124  of cup lid  112  with top surface  124  providing a drinking access for consumer  105  to drink the contents of disposable cup  155  therefrom. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view illustrating cup lid assembly  110  being placed on disposable cup  155  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Cup lid  112  is circular to fit onto drinking edge  158  of disposable cup  155  (in standard sizes) and represents a mouth contoured surface preferably comprised of BPA-free plastic to help contain the contents of disposable cup  155 . BPA (BisphenolA) is an organic compound used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins along with other applications. In an alternate embodiment, cup lid  112  is paper material compressed and molded such that it is suitably rigid to hold its shape and maintain contents within confines of disposable cup  155 . Cup lid  112  helps keep contents of disposable cup  155  at a desired temperature by resisting heat transfer through an evacuated zone—the zone between detachable germ-free cover  130  and top surface  124  before detachable germ-free cover  130  is removed for drinking from lid opening  126 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating germ-free beverage lid system  100  showing detachable germ-free cover  130  being removed from cup lid  112  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Detachable germ-free cover  130  comprises in combination pliable surface  132  to cover top surface  124  of lid-body  116  of cup lid  112 , an attaching edge  134  removably attached to top circumferential edge  122  of cup lid  112 , and pull tab  136  (as shown in FIG.  1 ). Detachable germ-free cover  130  of cup lid assembly  110  is preferably removably attached to cup lid  112  via pressure when manufactured or alternately may be temporarily affixed using adhesive. Detachable germ-free cover  130  covers lid opening  126  of cup lid  112  maintaining a sterile environment for cup lid  112  creating a closed and evacuated zone to prevent germs from entering the contents of disposable cup  155  until after detachable germ-free cover  130  is removed from cup lid  112 . 
     Detachable germ-free cover  130  comprises a thin profile to provide pliability and flexibility when peeling back and removing detachable germ-free cover  130  from cup lid  112  by using a lifting force and a pulling force imparted thereon to remove detachable germ-free cover  130  from top circumferential edge  122  of cup lid  112 . Detachable germ-free cover  130  covers lid opening  126  of cup lid  112  to prevent germs from entering the contents of disposable cup  155  until after detachable germ-free cover  130  is removed (peeled) from cup lid  112 . 
     Prior to use, cup lid assembly  110  is stackable one on top of another such that they are convenient for use by retail venders, hospital cafeterias and consumers  105  at self-serve locations providing hot and cold beverages in disposable cups  155  requiring cup lid  112 . Consumer  105  is able to place cup lid assembly  110  on disposable cup  155 . Detachable germ-free cover  130  is able to be removed from cup lid  112  immediately prior to consuming the contents to preserve a germ-free environment on cup lid  112  thereby promoting healthful consumption. Cup lid  112  is not exposed to germs until detachable germ-free cover  130  is removed from top circumferential edge  122  of cup lid  112  by using pull tab  136  to manipulate detachable germ-free cover  130  from a closed to an open position by peeling it back and away from cup lid  112 . While in use, top surface  124  of cup lid  112  is located above bottom surface  120  of cup lid  112 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating method of use  150  of germ-free beverage lid system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     Method of use  150  for germ-free beverage lid system  100  preferably comprises the steps of step one  501  selecting cup lid assembly  110  for use; step two  502  placing cup lid assembly  110  on disposable cup  155 ; step three  503  holding pull tab  136  of cup lid assembly  110 ; step four  504  peeling detachable germ-free cover  130  from cup lid  122  using pull tab  136 ; and step five  505  drinking contents of disposable cup  155 . 
     The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.