Abstract:
A hot cup lid providing alternating modes of access to the contents of a cup, the lid including an enlarged drinking opening selectively closed by a tear flap, and a smaller sipping opening diametrically aligned with the drinking opening and adjacent the periphery of the lid, the tear flap including a sealing lug thereon engageable within and closing the sipping opening upon pivotal movement of the flap to open the drinking opening.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/513,326, filed Aug. 31, 2006 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hot beverages, normally coffee, tea or the like, are frequently sold as a takeout item and supplied in disposable cups with thin plastic lids. Such lids are generally of two types, lids which are to be removed in their entirety for access to the contents of the cup, and lids which utilize a fold-back or tear-back flap to expose a large drinking opening. 
     If the lid is to be removed in its entirety when consuming the contents of the cup, the lid will frequently include a sipping opening which allows the consumer to cautiously sip the beverage until such time as the coffee has sufficiently cooled to allow for a direct drinking thereof from the cup. In those lids wherein a closure flap is provided, the opening formed upon removal of the flap must be quite substantial to allow for a drinking of the coffee in a normal and rather high flow manner. Sipping through such an opening, particularly when the beverage is very hot, can be troublesome. 
     As consumer preferences in lids will vary, a supplier of the dispensed beverage will frequently have to stock both types of lids to meet customer requirements. 
     Patents of general interest with regard to the environment of the invention include Lane et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,927) wherein the lid, in addition to providing an enlarged drinking opening with a closure flap, also includes a small vent opening  74  within a rather deep recess  72  for the venting of steam. Such a steam venting hole would have no sipping capability. 
     Another such patent is Zettle et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,019) which, in addition to an enlarged drinking opening or spout  108  through the lid itself, also includes a straw hole  106  with a gasket  200 . This hole, because of its structure specifically for the accommodation of a straw, is unlikely to be used to access hot liquids. Further, positioning of the straw opening substantially inward from the edge portion of the lid will preclude any possibility of a cautious sipping of the cup contents therethrough. 
     The patent to Warden et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,843) discloses a breakout section which is pushed inward to provide a drinking opening. This patent also discloses a highly restricted vent opening which is probably necessary to facilitate flow of fluid through the rather restricted drinking opening, and clearly is not intended to, and could not, as constructed, permit a sipping therethrough. 
     The invention has several advantages over the prior art cup lids employing a tear-back flap to expose the drinking opening and mechanisms to retain the flap in an open position for drinking the contents of the cup. It is known in the art that heat from contents of a cup can soften or distort the thermoplastic material of the cup lid, which interferes with the mechanism by which the flap is locked into place after the drinking opening is exposed. The embodiments of the invention overcome this since the sealing lug ( FIGS. 1 to 4 ) and projecting lugs ( FIGS. 5 to 9 ) are located on a tab that is beyond the outer periphery of the lid and thus remote from the heat of the contents of the cup. 
     Further, the location of the sealing lug or projecting lugs on the tab that is external to the lid rim means that the contents of the cup do not come into contact with the underside of the tab. This is an important improvement over the prior art cup lids because it ensures that the drinker&#39;s fingers will not come into contact with the cup&#39;s contents as the drinker tears back the flap and presses down on the area directly beneath the tab to engage the flap in an open position on the lid. Such is not the case in prior art cup lids where the lugs or locking protrusions used to secure the flap in an open position are located inside the outer periphery of the lid and thus exposed to the contents of the cup. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is particularly directed to a multiple function cup lid which can, at the option of the user, allow a controlled sipping, as would be desirable when the contents of the cup are too hot for a conventional drinking, and an unrestricted drinking of the contents as the liquid cools. The capability of the single lid of the invention to provide for two modes of direct access to the contents of a hot container, without removal of the lid, avoids the necessity of providing a separate lid for each drinking mode. Rather, both modes are accommodated by a unique single lid. 
     Basically, the lid, formed of a conventional thermoplastic material or the like, provides a tear-back flap joined by an integral or living hinge to a central portion of the lid body. The flap, when closed and prior to tearing or breaking away, has an outer rim portion defining a downwardly opening cavity which frictionally engages the conventional beaded lip of a cup. The remainder of the lid has a similarly configured peripheral rim for sealing of the entire lid to the container or cup. The flap, when a drinking of the contents of the cup is desired, will, through a lifting of the rim portion of the flap, break away and pivot rearwardly. This will expose the lip of the cup itself for a direct engagement of the user&#39;s lips with the cup lip and a direct drinking of the contents, as would be the case were the entire lid removed, while still retaining a substantial protective enclosure of the cup contents. 
     The lid, in an area diametrically aligned with the flap, also includes a raised ridge at the outer periphery of the lid. This ridge is provided with the sipping opening therethrough aligned with the tear flap. The positioning of the sipping opening, in the raised portion or ridge, positions the sipping opening substantially above the maximum fill line of the cup, normally at or slightly below the beaded lip thereof. In addition, the ridge uniquely provides for a convenient access to the sipping opening by the mouth of the drinker with the lips positioned to each side thereof for controlled access to the contents in the sipping mode. 
     When drinking through the drinking opening, it may be desirable to close the sipping opening which, while relatively small, is clearly larger than a restricted vent opening through which accidental discharge is not normally a problem. Accordingly, a projecting tab is integrally formed with the rim portion of the flap and extends beyond the rim forming periphery of the lid. This tab, upon an opening of the flap and a swinging of the flap fully backward, will engage over and close the sipping opening. This closing of the sipping opening is enhanced and an effective seal thereof provided, by a projecting lug on the tab configured to conform to the configuration of the sipping opening for a snug engagement therein. The engagement of the lug in the sipping opening will also act so as to hold the flap in its open position. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the lid provides a tear-back flap joined by an integral or living hinge located closer to the rim portion of the lid than in the first embodiment. A flap retaining ridge integrally formed in a recess in the central portion of the lid body is configured to conform to the configuration of a pair of projecting lugs integrally formed on the tab for a snug engagement thereon. The projecting lugs, upon an opening of the flap and a swinging of the flap backward about the pivot point of the living hinge, will engage over and be retained by the flap retaining ridge. The engagement of the pair of lugs on the flap retaining ridge will act so as to hold the flap in its open position. 
     Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the lid of the invention mounted to a hot cup with the tear flap closed and with the sipping opening open; 
         FIG. 2  is a similar perspective view with the tear flap released and pivoted rearwardly to overlie the lid and seal the sipping opening; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the lid itself taken substantially on a plane passing along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1  with the flap in its closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional detail through the lid itself taken substantially on a plane passing along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2  and illustrating the flap in its open position. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the lid of a second embodiment of the invention mounted to a hot cup with the tear flap closed; 
         FIG. 6  is a similar perspective view with the tear flap released and pivoted rearwardly to overlie the lid and engage the projecting lugs on the flap retaining ridge; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the lid itself taken substantially on a plane passing along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 5  with the flap in its closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional detail through the lid itself taken substantially on a plane passing along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 6  and illustrating the flap in its open position; and 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged cross-sectional detail through the lid itself taken substantially on a plane passing along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 6  and illustrating the engagement of the projecting lugs on the flap retaining ridge with the flap in its open position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the hot cup lid  10  of the invention is illustrated, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , engaged over the open mouth of a hot cup  12 . The cup  12 , in the manner of conventional hot cups, includes an outwardly rolled edge about the open mouth thereof which defines a cup lip  14 . The lid  10  includes a top or top panel  16  and a peripheral rim  18  adapted to snap-mount and seal to the cup lip. The lid rim  18 , noting  FIGS. 3 and 4 , includes a downwardly directed cavity  20  which seats on the cup lip  14 , an outer skirt  22 , preferably including an inwardly directed locking bead  24 , and an inner rim skirt  26  defining the cavity  20  and engageable against the inner surface of the cup  12 . 
     The height of the top  16  above the peripheral rim  18  varies from a maximum height with a side wall  28  extending between the top  16  and the inner rim skirt  26  therebelow to a generally diametrically opposed position wherein the top  16  engages directly with the inner rim skirt  26  substantially below the cavity  20  defined thereby. Basically, the top  16  is of a constant height for a substantial portion of the lid  10  and, at a break point indicated by  30 , slopes, as indicated at  32 , progressively downward, to the rim, with a corresponding progressive decrease in the height of the lid side wall  28 . Note, in particular, the left side of the cross-sectional details of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The lid  10  includes a central recess  34 , the depth of which below the top  16  is such whereby the bottom  38  of the recess  34  is positioned substantially above the peripheral rim  18 . The recess  34  is of a size and so configured as to define or retain a peripheral ridge  40  about a major portion of the lid, including the full height portion thereof and an extent of the downwardly sloping area  32  (note, in particular,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). This ridge  40  is defined by the flat top  16 , the side wall  28  and an inner wall  42  which also defines the peripheral wall of the recess  34 . 
     A flap-accommodating channel  44  extends radially outward from the relatively higher recess bottom  38  centrally through the sloping portion of the top  16  to the cup rim  18 . 
     A tear flap  46  extends centrally along the channel  44  and is defined by laterally spaced parallel tear or break lines  48  in and along the bottom of the channel  44  and through the aligned section or portion  50  of the lid rim  18 . The inner end of the flap  46  is pivotally joined to the bottom  38  of the recess by an appropriate living hinge  52 . The flap also includes an integral tab  54  on and projecting outward from the outer skirt portion of the rim portion  50  of the flap, with this tab  54  having an upwardly projecting sealing lug  56  thereon. 
     The flap  46 , when one desires to drink from the cup  12 , is grasped by the tab  54  and upwardly and rearwardly pivoted, causing a parting of the tear or break lines  48  as well as a disengagement of the rim portion  50  integral therewith. The drinking opening thus formed is of a substantial size and, by a removal of the rim portion  50  with the flap, exposes the cup lip  14  for direct access thereto by the drinker, much in the manner of drinking from an open top cup. This substantially free access to the contents of the cup will also be facilitated by the inclined nature of the portion  32  of the top, which allows for an accommodation of the upper lip of the drinker. As desired, the bottom of the channel  44  can be strengthened or stabilized immediately outward of the tear lines  48  by a pair of downwardly directed ribs  60  formed therein and paralleling the tear lines  48  for a major portion of the length thereof. 
     The top  16 , and more particularly the flat top ridge portion thereof formed by the recess  34 , at a point diametrically opposed from the flap and drinking opening  58  formed thereby, includes a sipping opening  62  therethrough. This sipping opening  62  is, as opposed to the drinking opening  58 , of a size so as to allow for a controlled sipping of the hot contents of the cup therethrough until such time as the contents have sufficiently cooled so as to allow for a conventional drinking thereof through the drinking opening  58 . It will be noted that this sipping opening  62  is provided immediately adjacent the outer periphery of the lid for convenient and safe access thereto and to the hot liquid to issue therefrom in a controlled manner. Further, the ridge  40  within which the sipping opening  62  is defined, allows for a convenient positioning of the mouth of the drinker when accessing the sipping opening. The elevated positioning of the sipping opening  62  at the uppermost position of the lid, will also provide for at least a small cooling effect as the hot liquid flows through the lid to the sipping opening. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4  in particular, when the larger drinking opening  58  is to be accessed, the flap  46  is upwardly and rearwardly pivoted and releasably retained in its open position by engagement of the lug  56  on the tab  54  within the sipping opening  62 . The sipping opening and lug are of complimentary configurations whereby the lug completely seals the sipping opening to prevent any accidental discharge therefrom as the drinking opening  58  is accessed. Further, in order to accommodate the projecting rim section  50  integral with the flap  46 , and thus not interfere with the sealing engagement of the lug  56  within the sipping opening  62 , a pocket or pocket area  64  will be provided at the rear of the recess  34  immediately forward of the ridge  40  within which the sipping opening  62  is defined. The pocket  64 , as will be readily recognized, is appropriately aligned to receive the rim section  50 . It will also be recognized that this pocket  64 , will provide for a further accommodation of the lid to the drinker&#39;s mouth as the sipping opening is accessed. 
     Inasmuch as the flap  46  incorporates a section or portion  50  of the locking rim  18 , the flap can be reclosed for a substantially resealing of the drinking opening. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 9 , the inner end of the flap  46  is pivotally joined by an appropriate living hinge  52  to the bottom of the flap-accommodating channel  44 . The tab  54  has located thereon a pair of projecting lugs  65  which extend upwardly from the top surface of the tab  54 . The opposing inner walls of the projecting lugs  65  extend perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the top surface of tab  54  and define a ridge-accommodating channel  66  therethrough. 
     A well or well area  67  is formed in an area extending from a portion of the flap-accommodating channel  44  to a portion of the central recess  34 , and includes a flap retaining ridge  68  extending radially in line with the sipping opening  62  and ridge-accommodating channel  66 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  8 , and  9  in particular, when the larger drinking opening  58  is to be accessed, the flap  46  is upwardly and rearwardly pivoted and releasably retained in its open position by frictional engagement of the ridge-accommodating channel  66  on the flap retaining ridge  68 . A snug retention of the flap  46  in the open position is achieved as the inner and vertical opposing walls of the ridge-accommodating channel  66  engage the radially extending walls of the flap retaining ridge  68  ( FIG. 9 ). 
     Further, the depth of the well or well area  67  is such that it accommodates the projecting rim section  50  integral with the flap  46 , thus preventing interference of the engagement of the ridge-accommodating channel  66  with the flap retaining ridge  68 . The well  67 , as will be readily recognized, is appropriately aligned to receive the rim section  50 . The depth of the portion of the well  67  adjacent the flap retaining ridge  68  may be shallower than the portion of the well  67  that receives the rim section  50 , this depth being governed by the height of the downwardly projecting lugs  65  on the tab  54 . 
     In this embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that, at the option of the drinker, both the larger drinking opening  58  and the smaller sipping opening  62  of the lid may remain accessible to the contents of the cup at the same time. Further, it will be noted that the size of the drinking opening  58  is smaller in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 9  compared to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
     It should also be appreciated that the hot cup lid of the invention can be formed of any appropriate thermoplastic or like material standard in the formation of cup lids and which will allow for the provision of tear or break lines, a living hinge, and a snap mounting of the lid rim and flap rim portion to a conventional hot cup. 
     As described, the lid is unique in its multi-functional capacity, providing, at the option of the drinker, a sipping of the contents of the cup through a small sipping opening upwardly removed from the fill level of the cup, and, upon a sufficient cooling of the cup contents to the drinker&#39;s preference, a direct drinking through an enlarged drinking opening provided in the lid which exposes the cup lip itself and provides direct access to the contents thereof as one would have in an open mouth cup. This is achieved while at the same time retaining a partial enclosure of the cup to maintain the warmth thereof and avoid accidental spillage. 
     The foregoing is considered illustrative of the principles of the invention. As modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and manner of use as shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.